Potential adverse health effects of wood smoke

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Western Journal of Medicine; (USA)

OSTI ID:5043517

Pierson, W E; Koenig, J Q; Bardana, Jr, E J

The use of wood stoves has increased greatly in the past decade, causing concern in many communities about the health effects of wood smoke. Wood smoke is known to contain such compounds as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fine respirable particulate matter. All of these have been shown to cause deleterious physiologic responses in laboratory studies in humans. Some compounds found in wood smoke--benzo(a)pyrene and formaldehyde--are possible human carcinogens. Fine particulate matter has been associated with decreased pulmonary function in children and with increased chronic lung disease in Nepal, where exposure to very high amounts of wood smoke occurs in residences. Wood smoke fumes, taken from both outdoor and indoor samples, have shown mutagenic activity in short-term bioassay tests. Because of the potential health effects of wood smoke, exposure to this source of air pollution should be minimal.29 references.

• OSTI ID: 5043517
• Journal Information: Western Journal of Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: Western Journal of Medicine; (USA) Vol. 151:3; ISSN WJMDA; ISSN 0093-0415
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
APPLIANCES
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COLLOIDS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
FORMALDEHYDE
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
MAMMALS
MAN
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PRIMATES
RESIDUES
REVIEWS
SMOKES
SOLS
STOVES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VERTEBRATES
WOOD
WOOD BURNING APPLIANCES