As a result, wood heaters have seen an unprecedented surge in popularity across the country. From 2008 to 2021, their per capita sales increases soared by an astounding 40 percent. This surge of new wood heater usage has raised significant issues related to air quality. This problem is compounded in cities such as Sydney, when the public health is jeopardized. Millions of Australians are regularly exposed to wood smoke pollution. Health resources professionals have been consistently alarmed about the long-term impacts, such as an increase in respiratory diseases.
The Centre for Safe Air, which provides monitoring of air quality across the nation, released an alarming warning of extremely high particulate pollution. On July 6, around 7:30 PM, Purple Air sensors around Melbourne indicated levels of particulate pollution considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. As lead investigator from the Centre for Safe Air, Fay Johnston said it quite effectively. She was shocked to find that air-quality monitors often recorded levels higher than 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
As the cost of living rises and electricity prices climb, many Australians are turning to wood as an affordable heating source. Dr. Peter Irga from the University of Technology Sydney highlighted this trend, stating that financial pressures are influencing household decisions regarding heating methods.
The Health Impact of Wood Smoke
Wood smoke pollution isn’t just an annoying smell. Its fine particulate pollution is a dangerous health hazard. It can be produced by the burning of a wide range of substances, including hazardous construction waste. The cost of this pollution is no joke. Public health advocacy groups, such as Asthma Australia and the Australian Medical Association, are calling on state and territory governments to stop the installation of new wood heaters and phase out existing heaters in urban areas.
The Centre for Safe Air recently published this national map showing the public health impact of wood smoke. Alarmingly, it predicts that as many as 500,000 Australians will die prematurely from wood heater smoke. Among the other large cities, Sydney emerges as the city experiencing the greatest public health burden from this issue. This impact is most acute in its inner ring suburbs such as Parramatta and Marrickville. These areas are all characterized by extreme population density. They have a lot of freestanding homes, with plentiful access to cheap firewood and plenty of chimneys.
Health professionals, including pediatricians, call for more general awareness of the risks of wood smoke. Fay Johnston expressed that “people contact us silently, anonymously. They’re in utter despair.” More than half of all residents suffer and struggle without voicing those struggles. They’re worried they’ll offend their neighbors, who rely on wood heaters to keep warm.
Community Response and Concerns
Given the health risks wood smoke poses, you might expect Australians to get a bit more worked up about it, you’d be wrong. Surveys show most Americans don’t know or care about the perils of asthma. This is particularly worrisome given that Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. Yet, the role of wood smoke becomes glaringly visible when those impacted speak on the issue.
Max, a resident living in a very forested neighborhood, testified about the daily battle to breathe in the colder months. “Soon as it gets cold, around 4 PM, the wood smoke becomes so bad you can’t go outside,” he stated. Similarly, Amber shared her experience with a neighbor’s chimney: “Our whole roof is covered in soot from their chimney.”
The changing nature of communities adds another layer of complexity to the challenge. As Professor Johnston explained, “It’s a really knotty neighbourhood problem for which we don’t have particularly good tools.” Most residents don’t know how to tackle these issues without putting their friendships with people across the street at risk.
Lisa, another concerned resident, actively monitors her neighbor’s chimney for smoke every morning, reflecting a community-wide vigilance regarding wood smoke emissions. This uptick in near constant monitoring points to the increased fear and concern about air quality and its health effects.
The Need for Action
Despite the rise in awareness and advocacy efforts by organizations like the Centre for Safe Air, significant challenges remain in addressing wood smoke pollution effectively. Geographical factors combined with the extensive use of wood heaters form a perfect storm for air pollution through Sydney’s basin. In turn, these harmful pollutants can trap other harmful ones in the air.
Dr. Irga noted, “Our topography definitely lends itself to trapping air pollutants within the Sydney basin.” This geographical barrier only serves to compound the problem. That means it’s on the line now for policymakers to find robust solutions to wood smoke pollution.
With energy prices on the rise, more Australians are flocking to wood heaters as a cheap alternative. Health organizations are supporting new, stricter regulations to greatly reduce public exposure to harmful emissions. They argue that while residents value warmth during winter, “we pay a big price in air quality for that heat,” as stated by Professor Johnston.
