Abstract. Residential wood combustion (RWC) is an important contributor to
air quality in numerous regions worldwide. This study is the first extensive
evaluation of the influence of RWC on ambient air quality in several Nordic
cities. We have analysed the emissions and concentrations of PM2.5 in
cities within four Nordic countries: in the metropolitan areas of
Copenhagen, Oslo, and Helsinki and in the city of Umeå. We have
evaluated the emissions for the relevant urban source categories and
modelled atmospheric dispersion on regional and urban scales. The emission
inventories for RWC were based on local surveys, the amount of wood
combusted, combustion technologies and other relevant factors. The accuracy
of the predicted concentrations was evaluated based on urban concentration
measurements. The predicted annual average concentrations ranged spatially
from 4 to 7 µg m−3 (2011), from 6 to 10 µg m−3 (2013), from 4 to more than 13 µg m−3 (2013) and from 9 to more
than 13 µg m−3 (2014), in Umeå, Helsinki, Oslo and
Copenhagen, respectively. The higher concentrations in Copenhagen were
mainly caused by the relatively high regionally and continentally
transported background contributions. The annual average fractions of
PM2.5 concentrations attributed to RWC within the considered urban
regions ranged spatially from 0 % to 15 %, from 0 % to 20 %, from 8 % to 22 % and from 0 % to 60 % in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Umeå and Oslo,
respectively. In particular, the contributions of RWC in central Oslo were
larger than 40 % as annual averages. In Oslo, wood combustion was used
mainly for the heating of larger blocks of flats. In contrast, in
Helsinki, RWC was solely used in smaller detached houses. In Copenhagen and
Helsinki, the highest fractions occurred outside the city centre in the
suburban areas. In Umeå, the highest fractions occurred both in the city
centre and its surroundings.
<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Residential wood combustion (RWC) is an important contributor to air quality in numerous regions worldwide. This study is the first extensive evaluation of the influence of RWC on ambient air quality in several Nordic cities. We have analyzed the emissions and concentrations of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in cities within four Nordic countries: the metropolitan areas of Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki, and Ume&#229;. We have evaluated the emissions for the relevant urban source categories and modelled atmospheric dispersion on regional and urban scales. The emission inventories for RWC were based on local surveys, the amount of wood combusted, combustion technologies and other relevant factors. The accuracy of the predicted concentrations was evaluated based on urban concentration measurements. The predicted annual average concentrations ranged spatially from 4 to 7&#8201;&#956;g/m<sup>3</sup> (2011), from 6 to 10&#8201;&#956;g/m<sup>3</sup> (2013), from 4 to more than 13&#8201;&#956;g/m<sup>3</sup> (2013) and from 9 to more than 13&#8201;&#956;g/m<sup>3</sup> (2014), in Ume&#229;, Helsinki, Oslo and Copenhagen, respectively. The higher concentrations in Copenhagen were mainly caused by the higher long-range transported background. The annual average fractions of PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations attributed to RWC within the considered urban regions ranged spatially from 0 to 15&#8201;%, from 0 to 20&#8201;%, from 8 to 30&#8201;% and from 0 to 60&#8201;% in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Ume&#229; and Oslo, respectively. In particular, the contributions of RWC in central Oslo were larger than 40&#8201;% as annual averages. In Oslo, wood combustion was used mainly for the heating of larger blocks of flats. On the contrary, in Helsinki, RWC was solely used in smaller detached houses. In Copenhagen and Helsinki, the highest fractions occurred outside the city center in the suburban areas. In Ume&#229;, the highest fractions occurred both in the city centre and its surroundings. Stricter and more efficient emission regulations should be set in the Nordic countries with respect to RWC, especially in urban areas, for the protection of human health.</p>
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.