Use Of Wood For Heating Research Articles

Integrated Assessment Modelling of Future Air Quality in the UK to 2050 and Synergies with Net-Zero Strategies

Integrated assessment modelling (IAM) has been successfully used in the development of international agreements to reduce transboundary pollution in Europe, based on the GAINS model of IIASA. At a national level in the UK, a similar approach has been taken with the UK Integrated Assessment Model, UKIAM, superimposing pollution abatement measures and behavioural change on energy projections designed to meet targets set for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and allowing for natural and imported contributions from other countries and shipping. This paper describes how the UKIAM was used in the development of proposed targets for the reduction of fine particulate PM2.5 in the UK Environment Act, exploring scenarios encompassing different levels of ambition in reducing the emissions of air pollutants up to 2050, with associated health and other environmental benefits. There are two PM2.5 targets, an annual mean concentration target setting a maximum concentration to be reached by a future year, and a population exposure reduction target with benefits for health across the whole population. The work goes further, also demonstrating links to social deprivation. There is a strong connection between climate measures aimed at reducing net GHG emissions to zero by 2050 and future air quality, which may be positive or negative, as illustrated by sectoral studies for road transport where electrification of the fleet needs to match the evolution of energy production, and for domestic heating, where the use of wood for heating is an air quality issue. The UKIAM has been validated against air pollution measurements and other types of modelling, but there are many uncertainties, including future energy projections.

Review of built and natural environment stressors impacting American-Indian/Alaska-Native children.

Children's exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors from their everyday environment affects their overall health and well-being. American-Indian/Alaska-Native (AI/AN) children may have a disproportionate burden of stressors from their built and natural environments when compared to children from other races/ethnicities. Our objectives were to identify chemical and non-chemical stressors from AI/AN children's built and natural environments and evaluate their linkages with health and well-being outcomes from the peer reviewed literature. Library databases (e.g. PubMed) were searched to identify studies focused on these stressors. References were excluded if they: did not discuss AI/AN children or they were not the primary cohort; discussed tribes outside the United States (U.S.); were reviews or intervention studies; or did not discuss stressors from the built/natural environments. Out of 2539 references, 35 remained. Sample populations were predominantly (70%) in New York (NY) and Alaska (AK); 14 studies reported on the same cohort. Studies with matching stressors and outcomes were few, ruling out a quantitative review. Respiratory and developmental outcomes were the main outcomes evaluated. Primary non-chemical stressors were residential proximity to polluted landscapes, lack of indoor plumbing, and indoor use of wood for heating or cooking. The main chemical stressors were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), lead, and mercury. Our qualitative review was suggestive of a potential increase in respiratory illness from indoor wood use or no plumbing, which can be used as a guide to promote healthy environments for AI/AN children. We identified limited studies (<40), demonstrating this population as understudied. Future studies need to consider: sample populations from other tribes in the U.S., stressors outside the household, other elements of the natural environment, and an evaluation of stressors from AI/AN children's total environment (built, natural, and social).

Local and remote black carbon sources in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires

Equivalent black carbon (EBC) mass concentrations in the fine inhalable fraction of airborne particles (PM2.5) were determined using a 7-wavelength Aethalometer for 17 months, between November 2014 and March 2016, for a suburban location of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (MABA), Argentina. In addition to describing seasonal and diurnal black carbon (BC) cycles for the first time in this region, the relative contributions of fossil fuel and remote and local biomass burning were determined by distinguishing different carbonaceous components based on their effect on light attenuation for different wavelengths. Trajectory analyses and satellite-based fire products were used to illustrate the impact of long-range transport of particles emitted by non-local sources. EBC data showed a marked diurnal cycle, largely modulated by traffic variations and the height of the boundary layer, and a seasonal cycle with monthly median EBC concentrations (in μg/m3) ranging from 1.5 (February) to 3.4 (June). Maximum values were found during winter due to the combination of prevailingly stable atmospheric conditions and the increase of fossil fuel emissions, derived primarily from traffic and biomass burning from the domestic use of wood for heating. The use of charcoal grills was also detected and concentrated during weekends. The average contribution of fossil fuel combustion sources to EBC concentrations was 96%, with the remaining 4% corresponding to local and regional biomass burning. During the entire study period, only two events were identified during which EBC concentrations attributed to regional biomass burning accounted for over 50% of total EBC; these events demonstrate the relevance of agricultural and forestry activities that take place far from the city yet whose emissions can affect the urban atmosphere of the MABA.

Salud ambiental infantil en el contexto de la reubicación de familias de campamentos a viviendas sociales

IntroductionHousing interventions aimed at overcoming poverty can lead to changes in the health status of children by modifying risk factors in their physical and social environment Objectivethe aim was to identify children's environmental health factors to change with the relocation of families from slums to public housing. Subjects and methodA cross-sectional study was conducted in children ages 2-8 years old of families relocated to public housing (n=115) who were compared to children residing in slums (n=88) in Santiago, Chile. Family socioeconomic characteristics, indoor environment and neighborhoods were collected. It was included respiratory symptoms, accidents and maternal-child care of children. χ2, Fisher and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare groups. ResultsThere were differences in households related to pets keeping, presence of humidity/molds in homes, types of fuels, and perceived safety problems in neighborhoods (p<0.05). The families from slums reported higher tenancy of pets (73.8% v/s 32.2%%), humidity/molds in homes (43.,2% v/s 18.3%), use of wood for heating (39.8% v/s 0.0%), compared with families of public housing. Residents of public housing perceived more safety problems in neighborhood, and children have more asthma related symptoms and have lower diversity of accidents in home. ConclusionAmong the factors studied, indoor air quality and safety in neighborhoods could be linked to changes from the relocation of families. This reinforces the need to deepen the positive and negative influences of residential mobility of these groups focused on child welfare perspective.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY: Wood-Burning Stoves Get Help from HEPA Filters

Vol. 119, No. 4 NewsOpen AccessINDOOR AIR QUALITY: Wood-Burning Stoves Get Help from HEPA Filters Carol Potera Carol Potera Search for more papers by this author Published:1 April 2011https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.119-a164aAboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit In many regions wood is seen as a cheap, renewable resource, and burning wood to heat homes is prevalent in rural and urban areas of North America and Europe.1 A small, preliminary study suggests air purifiers equipped with high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filters can lower the amount of indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and smoke from woodstoves, potentially reducing residents’ risk of cardiovascular disease from exposure to these air pollutants.2 “Our study is the first that I’m aware of that has shown any measurable health benefit from HEPA filtration in wood-burning communities in relatively young, healthy people,” says study leader Ryan Allen, an assistant professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.The researchers monitored 45 nonsmoking adults, average age 43 years, living in 25 homes in Smithers, British Columbia, where residential wood burning is common. Air purifiers costing about $150 were placed in the most active room of the house and the bedroom. The air purifiers ran for 7 days with the HEPA filter inserted and another 7 days without. The order of filter and control conditions was randomly selected for each participant, and participants were unaware of filter status.2Levels of PM2.5 and levoglucosan, a validated tracer of woodsmoke, were measured inside and outside the homes. At the end of each 7-day period, blood and urine samples were assessed for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and microvascular endothelial function was measured by peripheral artery tonometry.2Use of the HEPA filters reduced indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 60%, and indoor levoglucosan levels fell by 75% on average, compared with nonuse. HEPA filtration was linked to a 9.4% increase in the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), a marker of endothelial function, and a 32.6% decrease in C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.2 A reduced RHI reflects an impaired blood vessel response to changes in blood flow and is an early indicator of atherosclerosis.3 These physical changes occurred even though PM2.5 levels were relatively low to begin with—about 11 μg/m3 outdoors compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s annual average standard of 15 μg/m3.4Even people who don’t use woodstoves themselves may benefit from HEPA filters, Allen says. “Most stoves don’t put smoke into your living room directly,” he explains; instead, smoke that is vented outdoors leaks back into nearby homes through cracks around doors and windows.2A larger, better-controlled study is needed to confirm these findings, as well as determine any long-term health benefits of filtering indoor air, such as preventing strokes or heart attacks. Still, these initial results are promising in a world where indoor air pollution from solid fuels such as wood is a top global risk factor for disease and premature death.5 Moreover, says Lars Barregard, a professor of occupational and environmental medicine at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, “The use of wood for heating may become more common as the cost of other fuels rise or fossil fuels are restricted.”REFERENCES1 Naeher LPet al.Woodsmoke health effects: a review. Inhal Toxicol 19(1):67-1062007.doi:10.1080/0895837060098587517127644. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar2 Allen RWet al.An air filter intervention study of endothelial function among healthy adults in a woodsmoke-impacted community. Am J Respir Crit Care Meddoi:10.1164/rccm.201010-1572OC[online 21 Jan 2011]. Crossref, Google Scholar3 Deanfield JEet al.Endothelial function and dysfunction: testing and clinical relevance. Circulation 115(10):1285-12952007.doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.65285917353456. Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar4 EPAFine Particle (PM2.5) Designations. Frequent Questions. How Can I Find Out About PM2.5 Levels in My Community? [website]Washington, DCU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(updated 6 Aug 2010). Available: http://tinyurl.com/5vpm5sg[accessed 14 Mar 2011]. Google Scholar5 Prüss-Ustün et al.Knowns and unknowns on burden of disease due to chemicals: a systematic review. Environ Health 10(1):9 doi:10.1186/1476-069X-10-9[online 21 Jan 2011]21255392. Crossref, Medline, Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 119, No. 4 April 2011Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 April 2011Published in print1 April 2011 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.

Effects of the Hood River Conservation Project on electricity use

This paper summarizes the methods and results related to actual electricity use and savings produced by the Hood River Conservation Project (HRCP). Our approach analyzes monthly billing data to estimate weather-adjusted (normalized) annual electricity use. These normalized estimates are then used in pooled time-series/cross-section models to examine the effects of demographic, structure, and economic factors on household electricity use. Electricity use was cut by an average of 2600 kWh/year (14% of pre-HRCP consumption) between 1982/83 (pre-HRCP) and 1985/86 (post-HRCP) for the homes retrofit by the Project. These savings — which varied substantially across house type, house age, and household use of wood for heating — were less than half the savings estimated during the initial energy audits. Roughly one-fifth of the electricity savings associated with the HRCP measures were lost through the “takeback” effect associated with higher indoor temperatures and reduced use of wood for heating. The primary reason for small electricity savings was the low levels of pre-HRCP electricity used. Even before the Project began, households had adopted many conservation actions (especially use of wood for space heating), stimulated by the 40% increase in real electricity prices between 1980 and 1982. The combination of low pre-HRCP electricity use and modest savings led to post-HRCP levels of space-heating electricity use that were very low: below the levels in typical new homes constructed during the early 1980s and those achieved in other retrofit programs throughout the U.S.