Wood smoke emissions
Most people are surprised to learn that wood smoke can be dangerous. Learn why the EPA works to reduce wood smoke pollution, and what you can do to help.
Reducing emissions from wood heaters
If you can see or smell smoke from your wood heater, you are causing a problem for yourself, your family and your neighbours.
That's why we need to change the way we use our heaters.
Health and environmental impacts of wood smoke
Smoke from wood heaters is a major cause of air pollution that can affect our health.
The problem is, wood smoke contains 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.
Carbon monoxide
A poorly installed or leaking wood heater can cause excessive levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in the home. CO deprives the body of oxygen, impairing thinking and reflexes. At low levels of exposure, people can experience headaches, fatigue or chest pain; and at moderate levels, flu-like symptoms. At high concentrations, CO poisoning may result in death.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM) can cause short-term health problems including itchy or burning eyes, throat irritation and a runny nose, and illnesses like bronchitis. Particles can aggravate existing heart and lung conditions such as angina, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.
Air toxins
Air toxics created during wood burning include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which may cause cancer. Air toxics can also cause eye irritation, headaches and serious damage to the respiratory, nervous, reproductive, developmental and immune systems.
Studies have shown that PAH levels are highest during winter in NSW regional towns where wood heaters are a popular form of heating.
People most at risk
Wood smoke pollution affects everyone, but the health effects depend on how much wood smoke a person is exposed to, their age, and their overall health. People more at risk from wood smoke include:
- infants and very young children
- those suffering from existing cardiac or respiratory conditions, such as asthma
- those with vascular complications from diabetes
- frail or elderly people.
Guidance and practical resources to help local councils reduce wood smoke pollution.
Causes of excessive wood smoke
Operational causes
Common operational causes of excessive smoke include:
- insufficient kindling
- too much firewood in the heater
- turning the air control to slow burn too soon after light-up or refuelling
- trying to burn a single large log
- adding firewood without opening the air control
- an incorrectly placed log which blocks the air supply to the base of the fire
- wood that is too wet.
Installation or maintenance issues
Common installation or maintenance issues include:
- A heater flue clogged with creosote that needs to be swept. Symptoms of a clogged flue are:
- the heater is difficult to start
- smoke enters the room when heater door is opened.
- The flue length is too short for adequate 'draw'. The flue is an important component of the wood heater installation and needs to be long enough to draw sufficient air for proper combustion of the fuel.
- Poor location of heater and/or flue. A wood heater will perform better (in terms of both heating effectiveness and reduced smoke emissions) when located towards the centre of the home and not against an outside wall.
- DIY repairs such as those that leave the heater with missing components or the baffle plate incorrectly installed.
For more ways to reduce pollution from wood heaters, visit What you can do about wood smoke pollution.
Report wood smoke pollution
If you see excess wood smoke, report it to your local council. For information about how to report it, and other ways you can help, visit What you can do about wood smoke pollution.
Regulation
The Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Amendment (Solid Fuel Heaters) Regulation 2016 mandates the Australian/New Zealand Standards 4012:2014 and 4013:2014 for domestic solid fuel appliances in NSW.
All new solid fuel home heaters sold in NSW (locally and imported) must have at least 60 per cent efficiency and no more than 1.5 grams of particle emissions per kilogram of fuel burnt (g/kg).
Local councils are the regulatory authority responsible for dealing with woodsmoke emissions from residential properties.
Councils can issue smoke abatement notices under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act. A smoke abatement notice requires that a householder (i.e. the occupier of the residential premises) ensure that excessive smoke is not emitted from the chimney. The notice gives 21 days for any necessary improvements, maintenance or repairs to be carried out.
Wood smoke is a significant source of particle pollution, which can often be seen as a brown atmospheric haze on still, cool, winter mornings.
Table 1 shows the annual emissions contribution of domestic solid fuel combustion to total (i.e. human and natural derived sources) annual emissions of air pollutants in the Greater Metropolitan Region (GMR) and Sydney Region. Refer to Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW for a detailed description of sources, pollutants and regions.
It indicates that domestic solid fuel combustion contributes a significant proportion of many of the air pollutants listed.
Table 1 Annual emissions contribution (%) of residential wood heaters* | ||
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutant | Greater metropolitan region | Sydney region |
| 1,3-Butadiene | 20 | 21 |
| Acetaldehyde | 14 | 32 |
| Ammonia (NH3) | 4 | 5 |
| Benzene | 15 | 17 |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 6 | 16 |
| Formaldehyde | 33 | 38 |
| Isomers of xylene | 1 | 1 |
| Lead & compounds | 1 | 5 |
| Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) | <0.5 | 1 |
| Particulate matter ≤ 10 µm (PM10) | 6 | 28 |
| Particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) | 19 | 47 |
| Polychlorinated dioxins & furans (PCDD & PCDF) | 13 | 39 |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) | 32 | 35 |
| Sulfur dioxide (SO2) | <0.5 | 1 |
| Toluene | 1 | 1 |
| Total suspended particulate (TSP) | 2 | 14 |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOC) | 3 | 5 |
| *Source: Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW | ||
In the GMR, domestic solid fuel combustion contributes 6% and 19% of annual PM10 and PM2.5 particle pollution, respectively. The contribution of wood smoke is highest in July, making up 18% and 44% of monthly PM10 and PM2.5 particle pollution, respectively.
Figures 1 and 2 below show the average monthly emissions by sector and the contribution of domestic solid fuel combustion to total emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 particle pollution, respectively in the GMR.
Figure 1: Monthly PM10 emissions in the GMR*
*Source: Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW
Figure 2: Monthly PM2.5 emissions in the GMR*
*Source: Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW
In the Sydney region, domestic solid fuel combustion contributes 28% and 47% of annual PM10 and PM2.5 particle pollution, respectively. The contribution of wood smoke is highest in July, making up 57% and 75% of monthly PM10 and PM2.5 particle pollution, respectively.
Figures 3 and 4 below show the average monthly emissions by sector and the contribution of domestic solid fuel combustion to total emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 particle pollution, respectively in the Sydney region.
Figure 3: Monthly PM10 emissions in the Sydney region*
*Source: Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW
Figure 4: Monthly PM2.5 emissions in the Sydney region*
*Source: Air Emissions Inventory for the Greater Metropolitan Region in NSW
In rural and regional areas in NSW where the climate is colder and wood heater ownership and usage is higher, the contribution of wood smoke to particle pollution would be higher than the GMR and Sydney region.
Weather patterns during the winter months, together with the increase in wood smoke, influence air quality.
Wind, temperature and sunlight all have an impact on the movement and dispersion of particle pollution. Temperature inversions, where pollution is trapped in a cold layer of air at ground level, can also 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.
We can reduce harmful smoke pollution if we improve the way we use our wood heaters. Learn how you can make a difference.
Our recommendations to councils for tackling wood smoke issues.
Learn about EPA research into community attitudes towards wood heaters and wood smoke in the Upper Hunter.