Preliminary Survey for Setting Evaluation Standards of Wood Pellet Safety

Abstract

As the use of wood pellets increases, there is an increasing interest in the safety of the wood pellets themselves to avoid physical and chemical damage to people and the environment. This study investigated the contents of nitrogen, sulfur, chlorine, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc, and cesium in wood pellets distributed in Korea as a preliminary survey for establishing safety evaluation standards for wood pellets. Nitrogen, sulfur, chlorine, and heavy metal contents of wood pellets produced in Korea met the specification for the 1st grade of wood pellets determined by the National Institute of Forest Science and the specification for the commercial and residential wood pellets of A1 grade determined by the ISO and the evaluation standards for wood pellet safety determined by the Korean Forest Service. However, among imported wood pellets, some wood pellets contained nitrogen, sulfur, chlorine, and heavy metal exceeding the safety evaluation standards. Cesium radioactivity was not detected in domestic wood pellets. Cesium radioactivity was detected from wood pellets imported from Japan, but it was below the limits specified in the wood pellet safety evaluation standards. In conclusion, by establishing safety standards for wood pellets, we believe that safe wood pellets will be used.