Winter wood burning may be linked to thousands of U.S. premature deaths

A new study estimates residential wood combustion accounts for about 21.9% of wintertime PM2.5 in the contiguous U.S. and is associated with roughly 8,600 premature deaths each year.

Researchers report that burning wood for home heating in winter contributes a substantial share of fine particulate pollution in the United States. The study estimates residential wood combustion makes up about 21.9% of wintertime PM2.5 across the contiguous U.S. It estimates RWC produces roughly 485,000 tons of primary PM2.5 annually. The authors link those emissions to an estimated 8,600 premature deaths per year in the U.S. Key findings: - Residential wood combustion (RWC) is estimated to contribute about 21.9% of winter PM2.5 across the contiguous United States. - The study estimates RWC produces around 485,000 tons of primary PM2.5 annually and roughly 28% of total wintertime PM2.5 emissions. - The researchers report an association between RWC-related PM2.5 and about 8,600 premature deaths each year in the U.S. - Only about 2% of U.S. households use wood as their primary heating source, but emissions are transported across state boundaries and affect multi-state metropolitan areas. Summary: The study indicates residential wood burning is a major winter source of fine particulate pollution and is associated with thousands of premature deaths annually. It also reports that emissions travel across state lines and concentrate in some metropolitan regions. Undetermined at this time.