Wood fires and breathing problems
Wood fires and breathing problems
About wood smoke
Smoke from wood fires contains particles and gases that can reduce indoor and outdoor air quality, and potentially affect your health.
Wood smoke is generated from wood heaters, incinerators, planned burns and
bushfires
.
Wood smoke is a form of air pollution
Wood smoke is a complex mixture of particles and gases. These particles and gases are
air pollutants
.
The main air pollutants in wood smoke include fine particles and carbon monoxide. Other pollutants include nitrogen oxides, benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Wood heater use
The amount of air pollutants in wood smoke produced by a wood heater depends on:
the quality of the wood fuel
the type of heating appliance used
how the heating appliance is used.
Higher levels of air pollutants are usually generated during fire start up and when a fire is poorly managed – for example, when airflow to the heater is reduced, allowing wood to smoulder.
Higher levels of air pollution can occur where a heating appliance (such as a heater) is performing poorly, or when wood with high moisture content is burned.
Wood smoke exposure
Exposure to wood smoke can occur either:
inside the home
– from your own wood heater or outdoor smoke penetrating indoors
outside the home
– where smoke from a wood heater or other source is released outside the home, affecting neighbours and the outdoor air in general.
Improperly installed heaters or clogged chimneys can increase the amount of air pollutants produced (inside the home) and increase the likelihood of health effects.
Heaters that conform to Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4013), are installed properly, operated correctly and adequately maintained produce less air pollutants, with a lower likelihood of creating a nuisance or adverse health effects.
Health effects of wood smoke
Most healthy people recover quickly from exposure to wood smoke and do not suffer long-term effects, however any exposure to fine particles has the potential to affect health.
The degree of health effects that you may experience depends on how much smoke you are exposed to and for how long.
People who are more sensitive to woodsmoke include those with:
heart conditions
lung conditions (including asthma)
vascular conditions such as
high blood pressure
diabetes
.
Smokers
, people over 65, infants and young children are also more sensitive to wood smoke.
Symptoms of smoke exposure may include:
itchy eyes
runny nose
a sore throat
coughing.
Those more sensitive to smoke may experience worsening of existing health conditions, such as:
asthma
exacerbation
cardiovascular effects.
In addition to health effects, wood smoke can also cause smoke haze and odour nuisance.
There are a number of actions you can take to prevent or reduce the potential health effects of wood smoke (see below).
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, tasteless and colourless gas that cannot be smelled by humans. CO levels will rise in a home where a wood-fired heater is used. A poorly installed, improperly vented or leaking wood heater can result in CO levels inside the home that may lead to CO poisoning.
A small increase in the level of carbon monoxide may result in you having trouble concentrating.
At low to moderate levels of CO exposure, you may experience:
flu-like symptoms
headaches
fatigue
chest pain
.
High exposure to CO can result in permanent damage to the heart and brain, which may result in death.
Other wood smoke pollutants
Other airborne pollutants from wood smoke include benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Health effects from these pollutants range from eye irritation and headaches to more serious damage of the respiratory, nervous,
reproductive
, developmental and
immune systems
. Studies show that some of these pollutants are known to cause or are suspected of causing
cancer
.
Health precautions for wood heaters
If you have a wood heater:
Make sure you
operate it
properly
External Link
to minimise smoke generation. Maintain the heater and arrange for regular cleaning of the chimney.
Ensure fresh air enters the room to prevent CO build-up. This includes keeping the inside doors to the rest of the house open. If there are no vents in the wall in the room where the heater is, open a window slightly – at least a few centimetres.
Be alert to symptoms such as drowsiness, as this can indicate high CO levels.
Never burn plastics or foam, painted wood or
copper chrome arsenate (CCA)
treated or creosote-treated timber (for example, railway sleepers). Toxic fumes are generated in addition to wood smoke air pollutants.
Consider installing a less polluting form of heating, such as flued gas or electric, or replace your wood heater with a model that complies with Australian Standards.
Health precautions for outdoor wood smoke
To minimise possible health effects during times when outdoor wood smoke is a problem:
Reduce outdoor physical activities.
Stay indoors with windows and external doors closed – this provides some protection and prevents smoke entering your home.
If you suffer from heart or lung disease and you notice symptoms of smoke exposure, take your regular medications, rest and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.
Where to get help
In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
Emergency department of your nearest hospital
Your
GP (doctor)
Environment Protection Authority
Victoria
External Link
Tel.
1300 372 842
– for general information on wood heaters and air quality, what to do about neighbours with smoky wood heaters, correct operation and maintenance of wood heaters
Your local
council
External Link
– for advice and information on wood smoke pollution and for reporting complaints
Environmental Health Unit, Department of
Health
External Link
, Victorian Government Tel.
1300 761 874
– for information on the health effects of air pollutants
Victorian Building
Authority
External Link
Tel.
1300 815 127
– for advice about the correct installation of a wood heater
Asthma
Australia
External Link
Tel.
1800 278 462
VicEmergency
External Link
Tel.
1800 226 226
– for the latest information on total fire bans, fire restrictions and major fires