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You are here: Home > Environmental issues > Air > Air quality > Woodsmoke

Why is woodsmoke a problem?

• Woodsmoke pollution
• Contribution of woodsmoke to air particle pollution
• Influence of topography and the weather
• Community concern
• Research on the operation of solid fuel heaters

Woodsmoke pollution

Smoke from wood heaters is a major cause of air pollution. In fact, during winter, wood heaters can produce two to three times as much particle pollution as cars. Not only is a smoking fire wasting your money, but the air pollution it causes can also affect our health.

That's why we need to change the way we use our heaters.

Woodsmoke contains a number of noxious gases (including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and a range of organic compounds, some of which are toxic or carcinogenic) and fine particles, which go deep into the lungs.

These pollutants can cause breathing difficulties even at relatively low levels, especially for people suffering existing respiratory conditions, such as asthmatics, and for very young children and frail older people.

There is also evidence that smoke pollution can cause cardiac problems.

If you can see or smell smoke then you are causing a problem for yourself, your family and your neighbours.

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Contribution of woodsmoke to air particle pollution

In winter, there is more air particle pollution caused by wood smoke than any other single source.

In Sydney, solid fuel heaters contribute 40% of air particle pollution. On a winter weekend it can be as high as 50%. In colder climates, such as Armidale, the contribution of woodsmoke to pollution is higher.

The fine particles in woodsmoke contribute to the brown haze often seen on still winter mornings.

The figure below shows the relative contributions of weekday winter sources of particle pollution. It indicates that domestic wood combustion contributes 35% of total suspended particle (TSP) levels. On weekends this contribution can reach 50%.

Contribution of woodsmoke to TSP*, Sydney
Winter weekday (total = 95 tonnes/day)	Winter weekend day (total = 88 tonnes/day)
Domestic wood combustion 35%  Major industry 26%  Mobile sources 25%  Other domestic/commercial sources 14%	Domestic wood combustion 50%  Major industry 21%  Mobile sources 22%  Other domestic/commercial sources 7%
* TSP = total suspended particles. Measurements of TSP are used to provide an indication of the level of coarse particles in the atmosphere. Source: Carnovale, F., Tilley, K., Stuart, A., Carvalho, C., Summers, M. & Erikson, P. (eds) 1997, Metropolitan Air Quality Study – Air Emissions Inventory, consultant's report to the NSW Environment Protection Authority, Sydney.

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Influence of topography and the weather

Weather patterns during the winter months - together with the increase in wood fire smoke - influence air quality.

Wind, temperature and sunlight all have an impact on the movement and dispersion of air particles. Temperature inversions, where pollution is trapped in a cold layer of air at ground level, can have an impact.

The topography of the Sydney Basin (and to a lesser degree that of the Illawarra and the lower Hunter) can also affect the dispersion of pollutants.

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Community concern

DECC community research has consistently found air quality is the second most important environmental issue to NSW residents, following water issues.

Woodsmoke pollution from neighbouring chimneys is the source of many complaints to local councils throughout NSW.

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Research on the operation of solid fuel heaters

The Department of Environment and Climate Change is exploring regulatory tools to help reduce excessive emissions of smoke from domestic solid fuel heaters. As part of this initiative, the department commissioned Dr John Todd (Eco-Energy Options) to undertake independent research (Executive Summary; execsummary_toddreport.pdf, 68kb) to inform the choices to be made to equitably reduce woodsmoke emissions through new or existing regulation.

The key findings from this research are summarised below:

• Visual observations of smoke provide a practical means of identifying heaters that are smoking excessively. Poor operation, lack of maintenance, faulty appliances or installation, and unseasoned firewood account for almost all incidents of excessive visible smoke, and can quite readily be remedied. Targeted education will assist householders achieve reductions in woodsmoke emissions.
• Correct heater operation in a well maintained heater, reduces visible smoke to a heat haze or faint smoke within 10 minutes of lighting or refuelling.
• Laboratory testing and CSIRO analysis suggest that visual smoke is a good indicator of pollution emission rates.

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