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 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 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 – for advice and information on wood smoke pollution and for reporting complaints
• Environmental Health Unit, Department of Health, Victorian Government Tel. 1300 761 874 – for information on the health effects of air pollutants
• Victorian Building Authority Tel. 1300 815 127 – for advice about the correct installation of a wood heater
• Asthma Australia Tel. 1800 278 462
• VicEmergency Tel. 1800 226 226 – for the latest information on total fire bans, fire restrictions and major fires