Did you know that one wood fired heater produces 2- 3 times as many pollutants as a car?
Yes, the humble wood fire heater that sits in the corner of many of our lounge rooms faithfully pumping out cheap heating during these cold months creates 40% of Sydney’s air pollution during winter. In rural areas such as Tasmania’s Tamar Valley it produces up to 73%, with cars and industry contributing 6% and 7% respectively. In 2009, the DustTrack monitoring system in Armidale indicated air pollution exceeded levels recommended by the National Environmental Protection Council on 55% of winter days.
Another measure of just how serious a problem air pollution is comes when you consider the following facts:
- In 2006 NSW Government statistics reveal that air pollution contributed to 1,400 deaths each year in NSW of people with asthma, respiratory and heart conditions – compared to the 400 who die in car accidents.
- New Zealand research found that deaths were 16% higher in wood smoke polluted areas.
- About 4,500 people are treated in hospital each year as a result of air pollution.
- The Federal Government estimates the health impact costs at around $2.7 billion a year.
Burning wood is like burning oil, coal or gas. Wood smoke contains noxious gases including: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Add sunlight and the resulting chemical reactions form ozone - one of the most harmful components of smog. When inhaled, these fine particles can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma, which affects 1 in 9 children and 1 in 10 adults in Australia, or some 800,000 people in NSW alone.
Burning wood also produces large (10 microns) and small particulate matter (2.5 microns and smaller). The smaller particles don’t get stuck in nose hairs or in the throat, but penetrate deep into the lungs, airways and lower respiratory system where they accumulate because the body is unable to expel them. This affects asthmatics because it results in increased coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath and exacerbates asthma. In the longer term they can cause lung damage and cancer.
It is for this reason that Asthma Foundation NSW recommends that consumers use an alternative form of heating for their homes. We will be updating this page in the next 24 hours to provide information about safe forms of heating for asthmatics.
The following links might be of interest for people requiring more information on the health effects of wood smoke and how much it contributes to the problem of air pollution:
How asthma friendly is your heater?
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/woodsmoke/
http://www.sustainablearmidale.com.au/house/woodsmoke
http://www.3sc.net/airqual/mapping.html
http://www.3sc.net/airqual/
http://burningissues.org/car-www/index.html