While all smoke is harmful, old style outdoor wood boilers generate
more particulate pollution than indoor wood stoves. The units are designed
to burn wood at lower combustion temperatures and generally have shorter
stacks which emit smoke at house level. Wood smoke releases fine particulates
("soot"), carbon monoxide, and other toxic pollutants. While the new certified
OWBs produce less smoke, wood smoke in any form is a potential human health
problem. As more and more families turn to wood for their energy, the devices
they use need to be cleaner and cleaner in order to maintain Vermont’s
air quality.
Children, whose lungs are still developing, and people with health,
heart or lung problems such as coronary artery disease, asthma, or
emphysema are especially affected by smoke. Legitimate health concerns
account for the majority of nuisance complaints and have resulted in many
municipalities and states passing regulations to protect the public
health.
Concerns about health impacts and general air pollution have prompted
states in the Northeast and Midwest and the US EPA to adopt programs limiting
the smoke from OWBs. Manufacturing are cooperating and redesigning their
OWBs to meet new particulate emission standards.
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