Wood smoke nuisance is becoming more and more common. People live closer to each other, wood stoves are not restricted to the countryside and people are not aware of wood burning guidelines. There is a lot of fiction and also facts about wood smoke, such as wood smoke not being harmful to health, but what is fact and what is fiction? And what can you do about wood smoke?
- FICTION!!! Wood smoke is not harming health
Wood is a natural product, it can’t possibly be harmful to health…right? On the contrary, this is the most stubborn fiction on wood smoke that exists. The combustion of wood releases particulate matter. This particulate matter consists of relatively large, but also very small particles. Research shows wood smoke mainly consists of large amounts of the smallest particles, ultrafine particles (smaller than PM1). The rule for particle matter is: “the smaller the particle, the more harmful to health”. Confirmed health effects caused by particulate matter are, amongst others: asthma, COPD, heart and vascular diseases, cancer and even premature death. Wood smoke is harmful to health and inhaling wood smoke should be avoided.
- FACT – Lighting the fire place for two hours produces more particulate matter than a 1.000 km drive
Lighting the fire place for two hours produces extreme amounts of particulate matter. Not only does a fire place (like a wood stove and pallet heater) produces extreme particulate matter concentrations, the particulate matter that it produces consists mainly of the smallest particles (PM2.5).
- FACT – A fire pit produces more ultrafine particulate matter than the take-off track of the LAX airport
Research presented at the Wood smoke symposium of the RIVM shows that a fire pit with three blocks of wood produces more ultrafines (on average 186.000 particles / cm³) than the take off track of the LAX airport (on average 150.000 particles / cm³). One small outdoor fire is more polluting for bystanders than the air pollution stemming from one of the busiest airports in the world.
- FACT – The ultrafine particulate matter originating from one fire pit is three times as much as the start classification of Smog
The ultrafine particulate matter concentration originating from a fire pit is on average 186.000 particles / cm³. Smog is categorised by the RIVM starting from an average particle concentration of >50.000 particles / cm³, while “Smog” is ad defined by the RIVM upon average particle concentration of >50.000 particles / cm³. In short, a small outdoor fire is more polluting for bystanders than a light smog day.
- FICTION – Wood smoke nuisance is only counteracted by the use of Active Carbon Filters
Wood smoke is mainly particles. Using only Active Carbon Filters for wood smoke nuisance does not combat the wood smoke nuisance. Removing the wood smoke particles from the air is crucial and can be done with the proper filtration which are proven effective against the small particles, as it is the case with all the ASPRA air purifiers.
For some cases where adding and Activate Carbon material is desired, one can apply VFA Active Carbon Filters. Be aware that there are many Active Carbon Filters and not all are equally effective due to low % of Carbon and high sensitivity to dust concentration. The VFA Active Carbon Filters of VFA Solutions are made of 99% pure Active Carbon and thus highly effective in removing gases and odours from the air.
- FACT – Air purifiers from VFA Solutions remove wood smoke from the air and prevent wood smoke nuisance
Practical research shows that VFA Solutions’s air purifiers effectively remove wood smoke from the air and prevent wood smoke nuisance.This applies to all ASPRA air purifiers, including the recirculation ASPRA air purifiers as the ASPRA Aura for livings and bedrooms or the ASPRA Ceiling for offices, hospitals, schools and more but also the INduct filtration systems for integration in any ventilation, Heat Recovery Systems (HRU) or any Air Handling Unit (AHU) as the ASPRA S INduct or the ASPRA L1000 INduct.
How to avoid wood smoke nuisance?
Wood smoke nuisance can be addressed in various ways. It is always advisable to contact the one that is creating the fire that causes the wood smoke nuisance.
- Close windows and ventilation grills when the fire is burning.
- Ask neighbours to burn less or not at all.
- Ask neighbours to burn wisely, look at the EPA guidelines.
- Apply air purification to your home
- Your facility is equipped with a ventilation system or other air distribution system (e.g. heating/cooling)
Install an ASPRA S INduct air purifier behind your ventilation system / Heat Recovery Unit (HRU). The ASPRA will remove all particles from the airflow. As a result, the air in the ventilation duct is purified before it is distributed throughout your facility. This prevents wood smoke nuisance everywhere. - Your facility is not equipped with a ventilation or HRU system
For Consumers and small facilities: Place an ASPRA Aura air purifier in the room where you want to prevent wood smoke nuisance. The air purifier recirculates and purifies the air in the room, removing the wood smoke from the room. The ASPRA Aura is suited for use in rooms with a floor area up to 75 m², such as living rooms, bedrooms or offices.
Is your facility larger and of other function? Use multiple ASPRA Aura air purifiers or switch to a larger recirculation air purifier. Contact us for a personal advice when in doubt.
- Your facility is equipped with a ventilation system or other air distribution system (e.g. heating/cooling)
