Reducing Residential Wood Smoke: 

Health Communication Tools

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1

Leigh Herrington

Air Toxics Risk Assessors Call

February 13, 2014
What We Know About Residential Wood Smoke

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•Residential wood-burning emits more than 390,000 tons of PM2.5 into the air 

throughout the country each year –mostly during the winter months. 

•Accounts for 44% of total stationary and mobile polycyclic organic matter 

emissions, nearly 25% of all area source air toxic cancer risks and 15% of 

noncancer respiratory effects. 

•10.1 million wood stoves, inserts and pellet stoves, 17.5 million wood-burning 

fireplaces and 241,000 hydronic heaters in the U.S. 

•Sixty-five percent of the wood stoves are old, inefficient, non-EPA wood stoves

•An estimated $56-$126 billion in health benefits per year if all non-EPA wood 

stoves are replaced with cleaner burning appliances. 
Health Effects of Wood Smoke

• Wood smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine 

particles produced when wood and other organic matter burn.

• Fine particles (also called particle pollution, particulate matter, or PM) 

from wood smoke are harmful to health. 

• In addition to particle pollution, wood smoke contains several other air 

pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein and methane. 

• The particle pollution in wood smoke can affect everyone. Some of the 

most vulnerable are:

– People with certain health conditions such as heart or lung disease or 

asthma

– Older adults

– Children and teens

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Fine Particle Health Effects

• Causes watery eyes, stuffy noses, and chest tightness;

• Irritates the airways causing coughing or difficulty breathing; 

• Decreases lung function; 

• Triggers asthma attacks; 

• May lead to: 

– Chronic bronchitis; 

– Irregular heartbeat; 

– Nonfatal heart attacks; and 

– Early death in people with heart or lung disease. 

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Fine Particle Health Effects

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• Research indicates that obesity or diabetes may increase risk. 

• New or expectant mothers may also want to take precautions to 

protect the health of their babies. 

• Studies suggest harmful developmental and reproductive effects, 

such as infant mortality and low birth weight.

• Some studies also suggest that long-term PM 2.5 exposures may 

be linked to cancer.

*Particle Pollution and Health (2012)- http://epa.gov/pm/2012/decfshealth.pdf
EPA Residential Wood Smoke Programs

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•Residential Wood Heater NSPS (Gil Wood)

•Choosing an EPA-certified wood stovehttp://epa.gov/burnwise/choosing.html#woodstove

•EPA-Qualifying program for Hydronic Heaters

•Phase 2 Qualified: 90% cleaner than old models

• http://epa.gov/burnwise/choosing.html#hydronic-heater

•EPA-Qualifying program for Wood-burning Fireplaces and Fireplace Retrofits

•90% cleaner than old models

•http://epa.gov/burnwise/choosing.html#fireplace

•EPA Burn Wise Education and Outreach Campaign

•Develops wood smoke reduction tools and strategies for state, tribal, and local 

implementation.

•www.epa.gov/burnwise
Ways to Help Protect Health

• Burn dry, seasoned wood that has been split, 

stacked, covered and stored for 6-12 months.

• Test wood with a moisture meter (20% moisture 

or less is best).

• Use a cleaner-burning gas, pellet or wood 

stove.

• Make sure to provide sufficient air to the fire; 

never let it smolder.

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Changing out 1 old, dirty, inefficient wood stove is the equivalent to the PM 2.5 

reduction of taking 5 old diesel trucks off the road.
Wood Smoke and Your Health: 

Breathe Easier 

Click here to view the video

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Additional Videos

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Split, Stack, Cover and Storehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo1--Zrh11s

Wet Wood is a Wastehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM2WGgRcnm0

The Pledgehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev4XogvRbME
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Health InfoGraphic

• Visual message to promote 

cleaner burning

• Great for websites, social media 

and newsletters

• To download, visit 

http://epa.gov/burnwise/kit.html
Health Awareness Kit

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• Burn Wise Infographic

• Wood Stove and Fireplace Safety Tips to Protect Your Health article

• Burn Wise Top 20 Social Media Posts 

• Burn Wise Fast Facts

http://epa.gov/burnwise/kit.html

Other

• Wet Wood is a Waste brochurehttp://www.epa.gov/burnwise/pdfs/wetwoodwastebrochure.pdf

• Public Service Announcements- http://epa.gov/burnwise/psas.html

For State, Tribal and Local Training

• Reducing Residential Wood Smoke Training Videohttp://www.epa.gov/apti/video/Larry%20Brockman%20Revised%20051410.wmv

• Strategies for Reducing Wood Smoke- http://epa.gov/burnwise/pdfs/strategies.pdf
Social Media

• Join us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/EPABurnWise

• Follow us on Twitter

http://twitter.com/epaburnwise

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Want More Information?

herrington.leigh@epa.gov or 919-541-0882

brockman.larry@epa.gov or 919-541-5398

www.epa.gov/burnwise

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