Global Evidence of Adverse Health Effects Associated with Residential Wood-Burning

Abstract

Evidence supporting an association between short-term and long-term exposure to several air pollutants, including fine particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide matter, and multiple health effects is robust. However, evidence regarding exposure to air pollutants emitted from specific sources is more limited. Residential wood-burning emits various components of air pollution and is an important source of ambient, household, and indoor air pollution in many locations throughout the world. In many lower- and middle-income countries, wood, and more broadly biomass, is used by a large proportion of the population for cooking and heating needs and contributes to both household and ambient air pollution. In high-income countries, residential wood-burning is primarily for heating purposes and varies substantially by region and by economic drivers; however, even in high-income countries residential wood-burning can be an important source for both indoor and ambient air pollution. Globally, there have been efforts to reduce exposures resulting from residential wood-burning through the use of improved technology, alternative fuels, regulations, and other approaches, with varying degrees of success. Here, we will review evidence of adverse health effects associated with residential wood-burning from various fields, including ambient air pollution, household air pollution, indoor air pollution, and controlled human exposure studies; we will draw from related evidence, such as wildfire smoke. Synthesizing evidence from across these fields allows for a broader picture of the current evidence, including areas of inconsistent evidence and research needs.