Launceston, Tasmania, still faces acute air quality challenges today, particularly in winter. Reports suggest that poorly operated wood heaters significantly contribute to local air pollution, which impacts residents’ health. Environmental air quality specialist John Innis spoke to the enormous ramifications an individual wood heater gone astray can have on a small community. He emphasized the need to teach users how to operate products safely and effectively.
Innis’s worries both redress the hardship of Launceston residents who have previously been victims of the toxic byproducts of wood smoke. Robin Phillips, a local with asthma, recently faced severe breathing difficulties after smoke from a nearby heater triggered airway pain. His unfortunate experience resulted in a visit to the emergency room and four days of recovery after continuous coughing and vomiting. This event highlights the continuing need to improve management of woody biomass burning within the valley.
The Persistent Air Quality Issues in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania’s second-largest city Launceston, located in a basin of mountains, has historically dealt with bad air quality on freezing winter evenings. During winter months, particularly in the valley areas surrounding the city, wood heater pollution heavily courses through the air. As a result, many residents take the winter off, making their homes in less dangerous climates.
Local government and public health officials have grown more concerned by the health effects of the emerging situation. Frequently, problematic residents believe that if their wood heater is keeping them warm, they must be operating it correctly. At the same time, heaters badly operated can produce toxic fumes, worsening problems like asthma in already vulnerable communities. Innis pointed out that improper use is usually a result of burning wet or poor quality wood, which can lead to a lot more smoke being produced.
“Get a good roaring fire going and hear the air being sucked into the firebox and going up the chimney,” – John Innis
Luckily, Launceston is already taking steps to address these concerns. They have implemented a wood heater buyback scheme to remove these appliances from households. Recent cost of living pressures may have led to an increase in wood heater usage again, raising concerns among health officials about air quality.
Health Risks Associated with Wood Heaters
The health impacts from uncontrolled wood heaters are serious, including increased risk of death for impacted people, and particularly in those with underlying respiratory diseases. Phillips’s experience underscores these hazards. His asthma was triggered by smoke inhalation from a malfunctioning space heater.
Innis is willing to bet that a lot of wood heater owners don’t know what they’re burning. He explained that one of the challenges for consumers is knowing whether or not the wood has been treated. When treated wood is burned, even more harmful chemicals are released as it combusts, adding to already serious air quality problems.
“Sometimes it’s really hard to know… if [wood] has been treated,” – John Innis
He warned that when anything that looks like processed structural timber is burned, it can result in the emission of extremely toxic smoke.
“Anything that looks a little bit like a processed bit of structural timber that may have been treated — please don’t burn it … it can be really, really toxic,” – John Innis
Innis explained that some heaters “smoulder all night and make a lot of smoke.” This irresponsible continuation of dangerous fossil fuel emissions does more than turn our skies brown, it puts public health at great risk.
Community Responses and Future Recommendations
The impetus to act just could be the deep, pervasive, public outcry about air quality that’s killed many projects before ever leaving the drawing board. West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl reported that her council had contacted a property owner regarding allegations of burning treated wood after receiving complaints in August 2024. Luckily, no additional allegations have come to light since that time.
Innis believes that we cannot have a better environment without producing cleaner air. He urges wood heater users to check out the Environmental Protection Authority’s Burn Brighter campaign website, which provides useful tips to get started. Our initiative hopes to equip consumers with the knowledge, tools and resources they need to ensure they are making the safest, cleanest choice possible when using wood heaters.
