Wood Smoke

Wood Smoke
The health effects of wood smoke
Wood Smoke – What Is It?

Wood smoke is a complex mixture of gases and particles. The gases and particles are air pollutants. The main air pollutants in wood smoke include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, air toxics and particulate matter.
Armidale Air Quality Group
http://www.3sc.net/airqual/smog_refdescr.htm

We are concerned with the increasing air pollution from domestic wood heaters in residential areas, not only in Armidale, NSW. These pages contain information on the health risks from wood smoke,suggestions for tackling the problem, alternative heating methods, how to make your home more energy efficient, as well as the latest air quality measurements for Armidale.

Published Studies on the Health Effects of Wood-Smoke

Exposure to wood-smoke can have serious consequences for health. In developing countries, some stoves may emit smoke to indoor air. Several studies have shown that exposure to wood-smoke reduces lung function, especially in children, and increases coughs and other respiratory diseases.

Many recent studies have also found significant effects in woodstove users in developed countries such as the US. Children living in such homes tend to have increased respiratory symptoms, acute lower respiratory infection, increased frequency and severity of wheeze, increased frequency of cough.
Burning Issues - A project of clean air revival
http://burningissues.org/health-effects.html

Project Statement:
Smoke from residential burning of wood, wood burning restaurants and outdoor burning of wood, crops and debris is permeating our neighborhoods. This burning results in high ground level concentrations of toxic air pollution. Millions of people are becoming ill from these emissions and some are dying. Awareness and education are the key elements to the abatement of this source of deadly fine particulate pollution in our communities.
Morbidity and Mortality from Air Pollution
http://burningissues.org/tables/mortalitytable.html

Air pollution increases death risk in people with certain diseases.
Chemical Constituents of Wood Smoke
http://burningissues.org/table2.htm

Chemicals listed here are only the tip of the iceberg - combustion variables lead to hundreds if not thousands of chemical combinations. Some are sweet smelling vanilla and others are known to be the most toxic chemicals on earth. Wood also carries mold spores, some are able to be cultured from wood ash.
Wood Smoke Comparisons of Emissions from Smoke Particle Sources
http://burningissues.org/coup-emmis-part-sources.htm

Chart: Comparing Particle Emissions from Traffic, Cigarettes and Heating
CABRA
http://www.rag.org.au/cabra/default.htm

Neighbours smoke getting up your nose?

Raising Community Awareness about the Health Effects of Burning Wood in Residential Areas.
 

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