This season, avoid toxic chemicals with a real Christmas tree

It's hard to imagine the Christmas season without a tree to decorate and enjoy throughout the holiday season. For some, the decision to purchase an artificial Christmas tree might seem like the convenient and "green" thing to do, but purchasing an artificial Christmas "tree" can pose serious affects to your health, the environment and the local economy.

Artificial Christmas "trees" are composed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a non-renewable and potentially polluting petroleum product. PVC contains Phthalates, which can accumulate in body tissues and damage the liver, lungs, and reproductive organs. Lead - a cumulative poison - is often used in the production of PVC and can lead to environmental and health related problems, including nervous system damage, particularly in children.

Additionally, energy use from fossil fuels is required in the long distance transport of artificial Christmas "trees", often half-way around the world, adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Alternatively, real Christmas trees are made naturally from sunlight, soil and water. They produce absolutely no greenhouse gases and actually absorb carbon dioxide, which is a big component of global warming.

Disposal

Artificial Christmas "trees" usually last between 7 and 10 years. Because they cannot be recycled when they are no longer needed, they either end up at the land fill or in the incinerator. When dumped at a landfill, it takes generations before it will breakdown, and in so doing, take up land space. When they are incinerated, dangerous dioxins and other carcinogens are released into the air which can pose serious health risks like cancer.

Conversely, real Christmas trees are completely recyclable and biodegradable. They can be grown in the backyard for wildlife habitat, and when the Christmas season is finished, be chipped for mulch or used for firewood.

Where Trees Come From

Real Christmas trees are planted much like an agricultural crop, providing wildlife habitat as they grow. They stabilize and protect the soil from erosion and act as a natural air filter, removing carbon dioxide. Each acre of growing Christmas trees provides the necessary daily amount of oxygen for 18 people. Trees also sequester carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. They provide rural employment to farmers and contribute millions of dollars to the rural Canadian economy.

Finally, most artificial Christmas "trees" are produced in factories in China, Taiwan, and Korea where less stringent environmental regulations exist. By purchasing these foreign produced products you weaken the ability of Canadian growers and associated industries to make a living.

A real Christmas tree is the environmentally friendly choice.

Michael Rosen and Don Cameron

Michael Rosen is Vice-President of the Tree Canada Foundation, a Canadian organization that helps facilitate the planting and care of trees throughout urban and rural Canada.

Don Cameron is a Nova Scotia based forester. He can be reached through the Tree Canada Foundation.