Wood Smoke and Your Health | US EPA (2024)

FAQs

Wood Smoke and Your Health | US EPA? ›

The biggest health threat from wood smoke comes from fine particles (also called particulate matter). They are small enough to enter the lungs where they can cause bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, or other serious respiratory diseases.

Wood smoke contains tiny particles and gases that can have serious health effects when breathed. When people use wood stoves and fireplaces, chemicals are released into the air. Some of these chemicals are poisonous, some irritate the respiratory tract (see Figure 2), and some may cause cancer.

While older uncertified stoves release 15 to 30 grams of smoke per hour, new EPA-certified stoves produce no more than 4.5 grams per hour. Look for the EPA certification label on the back of the stove, or check the current list of EPA-certified wood stoves.

There are over 100 hazardous chemicals released from wood burning that can be toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing). For example, Benzene and Formaldehyde are two carcinogens released from burning wood.

Our findings of no observed changes in lung function is concordant with other experimental studies on wood smoke showing no significant changes in any lung function parameters investigated [27, 34].

As one study pointed out, the PAH content is “much higher” in wood smoke compared to vehicle exhaust, and because of this “a higher mutagenic and carcinogenic potential” exists for wood smoke compared to traffic exhaust. It's still not common knowledge that wood smoke—whether visible or invisible—is toxic.

Wood smoke vs. cigarette smoke: EPA estimates suggest that a single fireplace operating for an hour and burning 10 pounds of wood generates 4,300 times more carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons than 30 cigarettes.

Alaska, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Vermont are the other states that joined the lawsuit. “This is a serious public health, environmental, and consumer protection issue all wrapped into one,” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement.

“Certified” means that a wood-burning appliance meets EPA clean air standards. It generates less smoke (fewer particles) than a non-certified stove and uses less wood to create more heat. Only new stoves are certified. Certification takes place when the stove is manufactured.

Except in Washington and Oregon, new and old wood and pellet stoves can be installed in all US states, though local cities and counties may have their own restrictions. A few states and hundreds of counties also require permits to install wood and/or pellet stoves.

Is burning wood in a wood stove bad for your health? ›

Health Effects Caused by Wood Smoke

The smoke from wood-burning devices, such as stoves and heaters, contains fine particle pollution, and hazardous air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides benzene and formaldehyde.

Health effects of wood smoke

The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2. 5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis.

As far as harmful firewood types, driftwood contains dioxins (from the saltwater), and wood from poisonous trees and vines such as poison sumac and oleander can produce toxic smoke. Brazilian pepper wood is also not good to burn because of the toxic chemicals.

From an expert's perspective, lumber is unsuitable for smoking and grilling due to health risks. Unlike raw timber, lumber is often chemically treated for construction. Burning lumber releases toxic chemicals, producing harmful ash and smoke. Therefore, only use unprocessed wood for cooking to avoid these dangers.

Wood smoke exposure and gene promoter methylation are associated with increased risk for COPD in smokers.

Both wood-burning stoves and other forms of non-electric home heating solutions are sources of carbon monoxide and require a flue or chimney to transport byproducts out of the home and into the atmosphere. Homeowners get into trouble when they allow these byproducts to leak back into the house.