WOODSMOKE
These web pages present a snapshot of information available from various publications in print or online. Visit the links on the last web page of this section for more details.
A fire that is burning properly produces little or no visible smoke from the chimney or smokestack. If you see a lot of smoke coming from a chimney or stack, that's increased air pollution from inefficient combustion. All wood smoke, whether visible or 
not, can affect the health of everyone in the neighborhood. So it is important to balance an individual's right to use wood to heat their household with the right of others to breathe clean air.
There is a myth that because it is 'natural' wood burning has little impact on health. Another myth is that it is less harmful than other home heating fuels. The information below and on the 'Health Effects of Wood Smoke' page refutes these myths.
On these pages the terms 'wood smoke' or 'particle pollution' will be used depending on what is meant in that particular sentence. 'Wood smoke' is an all-encompassing term which includes gases, and various sizes of particles and may or may not be visible. 'Particle pollution' (aka fine particles or particulate matter which is often abbreviated as PM) will refer only to fine particles, which are so tiny they remain airborne longer and can penetrate lung tissue. Wood smoke found indoors may come directly from a woodstove/fireplace or from outdoor wood smoke that has penetrated the building.
Wood smoke contains harmful chemical substances such as: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dioxin, and inhalable particles. Some of the VOCs are irritating, toxic, and/or cancer causing. Toxic air pollutants are a potentially important component of wood smoke. A group of air toxics found in smoke known as polycyclic organic matter includes potential carcinogens such as benzo(a)pyrene.
One of the biggest threats to human health from wood smoke, indoors or outdoors, comes from particle pollution. Particle pollution is emitted from the combustion of any fuel, however on these pages we will focus on particle pollution caused by burning wood. Particle pollution from wood burning is composed of wood tars, soot, and ashes, some of which are harmful or toxic.
NEXT PAGE
