At our house this week we are faced with a common holiday dilemma. Should we get a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?
Some folks are committed to real Christmas trees and others are sold on artificial ones. And then there are the rest of us who go back and forth, possibly changing our minds from year to year.
Ever asked yourself which kind of tree is best? The answer is not so straightforward as you might like.
Real trees
Mold allergies can be stirred up to five times the normal level, when a natural Christmas tree is brought into the house. While the mold spores are dormant out in the cold they can flourish in a warm room.
Allergy specialist Dr Lawrence Kurlandsky of the Upstate Medical University, part of the State University of New York, discovered and documented that respiratory illnesses increase during the holiday season. It's known as Christmas Tree Syndrome.
Researchers studied clippings including bark and needles on 28 Christmas trees and came up with 53 cases of mold.
70 percent of these molds cause unpleasant symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, fatigue, itchy nose, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, sleeping issues and watery eyes. Long term lung problems, along with bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory issues could result from exposure to some of the molds.
Some natural Christmas trees have been on the receiving end of multiple applications of pesticides like Roundup through their years of growth, damaging wildlife and the environment. And the number of discarded Christmas trees each year generates tremendous waste.
On the plus side, if you buy a tree from a local producer, you're helping support your local economy. Your tree can be turned into mulch so it doesn't end up in a landfill.
Louisiana conservation groups, for instance, shore up coastal wetlands with old Christmas trees. In Illinois, herons are given nesting habitats consisting of used Christmas trees.
Fake trees
If your artificial tree has been stored since last Christmas, dust and mold spores from it can spread throughout the room.
Fake trees can generate dioxin, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride as PVC is manufactured. PVC has within it phthalates which are plastic softeners that are also hormone disruptors.
The Children’s Health Environmental Coalition reported that artificial trees expose families to dust laced with lead. Vacuum the tree or even hose it off before assembling.
If you throw out your artificial tree it can't be recycled. Instead discarded artificial trees can fill up landfills.
To safely store an artificial tree, seal it up a plastic bag or other container that can be airtight.
Live trees
Live trees may be the most ecologically friendly option when bought from a local grower. You can plant it in your yard after the season is past rather than toss it. But ou can't have it in the house for too long.
Keep in mind that a live tree has little chance of surviving out of doors if it's been in a warm environment like your home for more than a week.
Ornaments
No matter what type of tree you get, don't forget about your decorations. Have they been stored in a basement or attic that is dusty or moldy?
Resist the temptation to spray your tree with artificial snow or pine-scented spray, you just don't need all the chemicals.
As I contemplate tree shopping, I wish you luck with yours. And whatever kind of tree you end up with, here's hoping you enjoy it during the holiday season.
Sources:
Could you be allergic to your Christmas tree?. Express.co.uk. Retrieved Dec. 4, 2013.
http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/446494/Could-you-be-allergic-...
Real vs Fake Christmas Trees. About.com. Retrieved Dec. 4, 2013.
http://environment.about.com/od/greenchristmas/a/christmas_trees.htm
This or That: Christmas Trees—Real or Fake? Rodalenews.com. Retrieved Dec. 4, 2013.
http://www.rodalenews.com/fake-christmas-trees-or-fresh-christmas-trees
Christmas Trees May Make You Sneezy and Wheezy. Healthcentral.com. Retrieved Dec. 4, 2013.
http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/livingwithit-278085-5.html
Visit Jody's website at http://www.ncubator.ca
Reviewed December 5, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN