[Greenbuilding] No place for wood burning fireplaces in Green Building

[Paul Newby]

Not to suggest that the most efficient wood burning methods
aren't the most desirable for various reasons, but...

It would be interesting to put this into perspective by
assessing the absolute and relative magnitude of particulates
from woodsmoke.  In rural areas, woodsmoke may be a large
fraction of a small total.  In urban areas like Toronto,
I'll bet that particulates from woodsmoke is a very small
fraction of an unacceptably large number.

Paul N.

JAY WALSH wrote:
> No place for wood burning open fireplaces in Green Building
> 
> Burning wood in an inefficient way is a step in the wrong direction if your
> intention is to Build Green.  
> 
> EPA web site
> For Air Quality Program Officials
> As an air quality program official, you know that in some parts of the United
> States, smoke from woodstoves and fireplaces is the largest source of outdoor
> air pollution from residential sources. During a typical wood heating season
> (especially nights and weekends), wood smoke can account for as much as 80% of
> the particulate matter (PM) emissions in a residential area, depending on
> usage patterns... 
> 
> 
> American Lung Association April 2000
> WHY IS WOODBURNING AN AIR POLLUTION PROBLEM?
> In most areas of the country, woodburning from fireplaces and woodstoves is
> the largest source of particulate matter air pollution (PM) generated by
> residential sources. In some localities, fireplaces and woodstoves have been
> identified as the source of 80% or more of all ambient particles smaller than
> 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) during the winter months. A large body of
> evidence links PM with adverse health outcomes, including excess mortality,
> especially among those with preexisting cardiopulmonary illness…
> 
> In addition to particulate matter, woodsmoke emissions contain components such
> as carbon monoxide; various irritant gases such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
> dioxide, hydrochloric acid, and formaldehyde; and chemicals known or suspected
> to be carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
> dioxin….
> 
> City of Toronto,
> Health impacts of wood-burning emissions
> Residential wood burning can impact air quality both outdoors and indoors.
> Indoor air quality is especially important for health, given that most people
> spend the majority of their time indoors. Data suggest that respirable small
> particles from various sources indoors including residential wood burning, can
> contribute to nasal irritation, respiratory infections, bronchitis and lung
> cancer.
> 
> USA TODAY Posted 11/14/2005 
> Hidden cost in wood burning: Pollution 
> Scientists have long known that wood smoke contains carbon monoxide and
> cancer-causing chemicals. But research shows that wood smoke's major
> ingredient — tiny particles of soot and liquid pollution — worsens heart
> disease and triggers asthma attacks.
> 
> Sincerely submitted,
> 
> Jay Walsh
> Center for Ecological Technology
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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