New Wood Burning Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices

On July 9, 2008, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board adopted Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-burning Devices to reduce the harmful emissions that come from wood smoke.  The new rule will:

• Restrict wood burning when air quality is unhealthy and a Spare the Air Advisory is issued
• Place limits on excessive smoke (exceding 20 percent opacity)
• Require only cleaner burning EPA certified stoves and inserts be sold
• Require only cleaner burning EPA certified stoves and inserts in new construction or remodels
• Prohibit the burning of garbage and other harmful materials
• Require labeling on firewood and solid fuels sold within the Bay Area

For a full copy of the new Regulation 6, Rule 3: Wood-burning Devices, click here.

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The San Francisco Bay Area is home to almost seven million residents and an estimated 1.2 million fireplaces and wood stoves. Wood smoke air pollution from these devices can be a significant air pollution and public health problem during the winter.

Wood Smoke is 80 - 90% Fine Particulate matter

Wood smoke air pollution comes from the burning of wood both indoors (fireplaces, woodstove and other wood burning devices) and outdoors recreational firepits,  Wood smoke contains approximately 80 -90 % fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) measuring 2.5 microns in size (one millionth of a meter or 1/70th of a human hair).

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Associated with Serious Health Effects

Fine particles can easily bypass the natural filters in the nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs.  Health studies have linked long-term exposure to PM with serious health effects such as

• Decreased lung function
• Aggravated asthma,
• Nose and throat irritation,
• Chronic bronchitis,
• Lung damage
• Irregular heart beat and
• Even premature death in people with lung and heart disease 

People with heart or lung disease such as congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, emphysema or asthma may experience health effects earlier and at lower levels than healthy people.   Older adults are more likely to be affected because they are more likely to have chronic heart or lung diseases than younger people.   Children are most susceptible because their respiratory systems are still developing, they breathe more air (and air pollution) per pound of body weight than adults and they are more likely to be playing outdoors.

Highest Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution Occurs During the Winter

During the months of November through February, cold weather inversions can put a "lid" over the Bay Area allowing fine particulate matter levels to rise and cause serious health problems. Chemical analysis of filters from air monitoring instruments indicate that winter-time woodsmoke is a significant source of fine particulate matter on cold winter days.  The picture below shows a comparison of a filter cartridge from an air monitoring station on a good air quality day (on the left) with a filter cartridge on a cold winter day with high PM levels (on the right).

Why a Wood Smoke Regulation?

In order to protect public health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the air quality standard for fine PM to 35 micrograms per cubic meter.   The Air District is required to establish regulations to meet the EPA standard and reduce fine PM in order to protect public health.   Residential woodburning represents the largest primary source of PM 2.5 during winter months, contributing approximately 33% of fine PM on cold winter days.   Similar rules have been successfully implemented in other areas throughout California and the nation resulting in significant improvements to air quality.

What you can do to help

Wood smoke is the biggest source of air pollution that individuals have the greatest power to control.  Here are 10 things you can do to reduce wood smoke pollution:

• Give your fireplace or wood stove the night off.
• Replace your fireplace or wood stove with a clean burning natural gas device.
• Insulate your house to keep warmth in.
• Save energy and reduce pollution by wearing a sweater on chilly nights.
• Switch to an EPA-certified wood burning device or pellet stove, which emit up to 70% less PM.
• Burn clean, hotter fires with plenty of air, in order to prevent visible smoke from a chimney or flue;  smoke which indicates poor combustion so adjust dampers or fuel accordingly.
• Never burn, painted wood, treated wood, particle board, plastics, wrapping paper or other garbage; burning them releases toxic chemicals.
• Burn only dry hardwood fuel such as oak or cherry, which produces less smoke and burns hotter; never burn wet wood.
• Store wood in a dry or covered area, off the ground to keep it from getting wet.
• Keep your fireplace and stove well maintained to improve air flow and reduce emissions.

To learn more about wood smoke pollution and what you can do, please visit these websites:

Health Effects

www.epa.gov/woodstoves/healtheffects.html

Spare the Air Tonight Advisories

www.sparetheair.org

Rebates and Incentives

www.sparetheair.org/community/changeoutprogram.htm

Wood Smoke Basics

www.epa.gov/woodstoves/index.html