news-pubblication-sino-italian
Wood Burning can Undermine Low Traffic Emissions’ Gains
09 July 2014

LondonThrough the Renewable Energy Directive the EU has committed to generating 20% of its total energy from renewable sources by 2020, and mandatory national targets have been set for Member States. In the UK an initiative was launched in 2011, providing financial rewards to encourage the use of renewable fuels for heating, including wood. Wood burning however, is a source of air pollution, particularly PM, which is known to be damaging to health.

A recent study shows that particulate matter (PM) emissions from domestic wood burning in London are higher than the PM reductions achieved through London's Low Emission Zone, possibly undermining policies aimed at meeting EU PM10 targets. For PM10 the hourly limit is 50 μg/m3, with a yearly limit of 40 μg/m3.

The researchers in this study assessed PM10 levels caused by wood burning across a 38 km stretch of London, in two periods, from 2010 to 2011. They showed that the amount of PM10 emitted yearly by wood burning (1.1 μg/m3) was responsible for 5% of total PM10 pollution and was in fact greater than the reductions achieved through the first two phases of London's Low Emission Zone programme, implemented in February 2008 and July 2008 respectively. This programme had led to estimated reductions of 0.17 μg/m3.

Although this study focused on a single city, similar effects may well occur in other urban areas in western Europe, highlighting the risk that increased wood burning can undermine other policies aimed at reducing PM10 levels in line with EU Air Quality Standards.

To download the complete study please follow this link.

 

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