THE humble wood-burning heater releases more hazardous pollution than a car and the average heater in Sydney leads to an estimated $3172 in health costs a year, new research claims.The report, published in the journal Atmospheric Pollution Research, applies the same methodology used to measure vehicle emissions to wood-burning heaters and adds up the cost of respiratory health treatments.
Dr Robinson, also a Greens councillor in Armidale, drew together international research on the health impacts of heaters, including a 2007 New Zealand study that showed death rates rose along with wood smoke levels after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic status and tobacco smoking.
New Zealand has since tightened its particulate matter emission standards for heaters but the Australian standard has not been updated since 1999.
The Greens want tighter emissions standards and a moratorium on new wood-burning heaters until new rules come in.
Read article
The peak wood heater industry body, the Australian Home Heating Association, said even a short-term ban would "see an industry that employs many".
ReplyDelete