Campfire smoke carries a variety of health implications/Kurt Repanshek file

Campfire smoke can exacerbate existing health conditions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, carry carcinogens into your lungs, and make your stay in a national park campground miserable.

While many say that an evening around a campfire is an experience integral to your connection with nature, a 2004 U.S. Forest Service study, EPA findings, and an informal poll of Traveler readers raise more than a few concerns about how healthy it can be to sit in a campground with dozens of campfires flickering into the night.

Smoke may smell good, but it's not good for you. The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2.5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis.

Fine particles can make asthma symptoms worse and trigger asthma attacks. Fine particles can also trigger heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, especially in people who are already at risk for these conditions.-- EPA, Wood Smoke and Your Health

But the particles are only part of the concern. The EPA notes that wood smoke also contains amounts of benzene, formaldahyde, acrolein, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The smoke can irritate lungs, and make them more susceptible to infections, including that from Covid-19, the agency says on its website.

"I used to volunteer at Capitol Reef (National Park) and the smoke from wood fires was bad nearly every evening," wrote Ralph in a comment to a reader survey Traveler conducted in April. "Say no to wood fires at all national parks."

"Campfire smoke is a real problem," wrote Deb. "Too many people are so unaware of anything other than themselves that they just don't care about the people around them. I've been in campgrounds where I couldn't sleep because of the smoke. It's time for fresh air and quiet camping in the national parks."

"In 2013, the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California measured the particulate matter from one beach fire. You can read the report of their studies (here)," pointed out Barbara Peters. "Note slide 3 of their findings states that the particulate emissions rate from one... just one... beach fire is equivalent to that of the secondhand smoke of 800 cigarettes, or three 2013 fleet average diesel trucks. We otherwise know wood smoke is a source of hazardous air pollutants and contains many of the same toxic chemicals as tobacco smoke."

Conversely, Rob Klang wrote that, "Camping and campfires go together like nothing else. It seems that everything has been deemed to cause us harm.  But most things that are enjoyable aren't good for you! The amount of smoke inhaled sitting around a campfire is nothing compared to what a firefighter breathes in. Life is too short to worry about the things that 'could' do you harm.... grilling meat, drinking more than one drink per day, etc. Camping and sitting around a fire are relaxing and enjoyable for all who do it. There are much more pressing concerns other than the effects of a little smoke inhalation in our lives. We shouldn't be concerned about the trivial while enjoying camping in the great outdoors in our beautiful national park campgrounds, or anywhere!"

And Loui added that, "There is a time and place for everything. The time and place for campfires is in fire rings in established campgrounds. If you are so misanthropic and/or so fearful of the pereceived health effects, maybe going outside around other people is not for you. Maybe dispersed camping is for you. Generators and dogs and loud music are much bigger problems. Campfires (not bonfires) are more than cultural. Campfires are used to teach new campers how to build a fire. They are used for cooking. They are used to keep campers warm. They bring campers and strangers together."

Eric Burr, a self-described retired ranger/naturalist, wrote that, "As a ... veteran of many 'campfire talks' I see the situation very much in flux. The 'campfire circle' where the naturalist tends the fire is the best place to preserve this hallowed tradition. She or he can use this occasion as the teachable moment to explain why campfires must now be restricted for the general public. It's true that the average tourist visiting national parks now is clueless about real fires. They are much more comfortable with propane, but it too is polluting, and many of them are aware of this. Woodsmoke is goodsmoke and part of nature, but only in the hands of skilled technicians. National parks are the perfect place to address this issue. We need naturalists who know fire."

Back in 2004, Mary Ann Davies conducted an "informal study" (attached) for the Forest Service of the pollutants generated by campfires, both those burning strictly wood and those with added garbage (e.g., candy wrappers, aluminum foil, colored cardboard).

Toulene, which can cause "insomnia, nerve damage, inflammation of the skin, and liver and kidney damage," "is abundant in the smoke of campfires that just burn wood. Only nickel-cadmium batteries released more toluene in smoke than wood," Davies found.

The EPA also noted that, "The particles in wood smoke can reduce visibility (haze). Particles can also create environmental and aesthetic damage in our communities and scenic areas – like national parks."

National Park Service staff in Washington, D.C., did not respond to Traveler inquiries into whether the agency had researched the health impacts of campfire smoke in park campgrounds, or whether the service's work on designing the "21st Century Campground" was considering the issue.

EPA and others have, however, outlined ways to reduce the negative health impacts from campfires:

• Burn only seasoned wood, that which has been allowed to dry for at least six months;
• Use firewood with a moisture content of less than 20 percent;
• Don't burn garbage in your campfire;
• Don't burn wet or moldy wood;
• Learn how to build a proper campfire to minimize the smoke it gives off.