Residential Wood Combustion in Finland: PM2.5 Emissions and Health Impacts with and without Abatement Measures.

Savolahti Savolahti,Paunu Paunu,Karvosenoja Karvosenoja,Kupiainen Kupiainen,Hänninen Hänninen,Korhonen Korhonen,Karppinen Karppinen,Kukkonen Kukkonen,Kangas Kangas,Lehtomäki Lehtomäki

doi:10.3390/ijerph16162920

Abstract

Exposure to fine particles in ambient air has been estimated to be one of the leading environmental health risks in Finland. Residential wood combustion is the largest domestic source of fine particles, and there is increasing political interest in finding feasible measures to reduce those emissions. In this paper, we present the PM2.5 emissions from residential wood combustion in Finland, as well as the resulting concentrations. We used population-weighed concentrations in a 250 × 250 m grid as population exposure estimates, with which we calculated the disease burden of the emissions. Compared to a projected baseline scenario, we studied the effect of chosen reduction measures in several abatement scenarios. In 2015, the resulting annual average concentrations were between 0.5 and 2 µg/m3 in the proximity of most cities, and disease burden attributable to residential wood combustion was estimated to be 3400 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and 200 deaths. Disease burden decreased by 8% in the 2030 baseline scenario and by an additional 63% in the maximum feasible reduction scenario. Informational campaigns and improvement of the sauna stove stock were assessed to be the most feasible abatement measures to be implemented in national air quality policies.

Highlights

Exposure to air pollution, especially fine particles (PM2.5 ), is linked to substantial impacts on public health (e.g., [1,2])
In 2015, the resulting annual average concentrations were between 0.5 and 2 μg/m3 in the proximity of most cities, and disease burden attributable to residential wood combustion was estimated to be 3400 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and 200 deaths
The disease burden attributable to residential wood combustion (RWC) in our work would constitute approximately 13% of the total disease burden caused by PM2.5 concentrations in Finland

Summary

Introduction

Especially fine particles (PM2.5 ), is linked to substantial impacts on public health (e.g., [1,2]). Concentrations of air pollutants in ambient air are formed from a combination of long-range transported pollutants, as well as national and local emissions. Estimated the burden of disease and deaths in Finland attributable to ambient particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 ), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone exposures from all sources in 2015. They estimated PM2.5 to cause 26,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and 1600 deaths, which comprised 75% and 80% of the total disease burden of air pollution, respectively. Particulate emissions from most major sources, like transport and industrial-size combustion plants, have been regulated by law for decades. Emissions from residential wood combustion (RWC), have not been regulated far. RWC has become the largest source of PM2.5 in many European countries [5] and is estimated to be among the most important contributors

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