Wood smoke is a major source of air pollution,^[1][2][3][4] especially particulate pollution,^[2]pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)^[5] and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)^{[2][better source needed]} such as formaldehyde.^[6]

Severity in cities[edit]

In the United Kingdom domestic combustion, especially for industrial uses, is the largest single source of PM2.5 annually.^[7][8] In some towns and cities in New South Wales, wood smoke mostly from fired heaters may be responsible for 60% of fine particle air pollution in the winter.^[9] A year-long sampling campaign in Athens, Greece found a third (31%) of PAH urban air pollution to be caused by wood-burning, roughly as much as that of diesel and oil (33%) and gasoline (29%). It also found that wood-burning is responsible for nearly half (43%) of annual PAH lung cancer-risk compared to the other sources and that wintertime PAH levels were 7 times higher than in other seasons, presumably due to an increased use of fireplaces and heaters. The largest exposure events are periods during the winter with reduced atmospheric dispersion to dilute the accumulated pollution , in particular due to the low wind speeds.^[5]

Detrimental health effects[edit]

Wood smoke can cause lung damage,^[10][11] artery damage and DNA damage^[12] leading to cancer,^[13][14] other respiratory and lung disease and cardiovascular disease.^[9][15] Air pollution, particulate matter and wood smoke may also indirectly cause brain damage because of particulates breaching the cardiovascular system and into the brain,^{[16][17][18][19]} which can increase the risk of developmental disorders,^{[20][21][22][23]} neurodegenerative disorders^[24][25] mental disorders,^[26][27][28] and suicidal behavior,^[26][28] although studies on the link between depression and some air pollutants are not consistent.^[29] At least one study has identified "the abundant presence in the human brain of magnetite nanoparticles that match precisely the high-temperature magnetite nanospheres, formed by combustion and/or friction-derived heating, which are prolific in urban, airborne particulate matter (PM)."^[30] Air pollution has also been linked to a range of other psychosocial problems.^[27]

References[edit]