Indoor pollution and burning practices in wood stove management

Abstract

This study evaluates effects of good burning practice and correct installation and management of wood heaters on indoor air pollution in an Italian rural area. The same study attests the role of education in mitigating wood smoke pollution. In August 2007 and winters of 2007 and 2008, in a little mountain village of Liguria Apennines (Italy), indoor and outdoor benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) concentrations were measured in nine wood-heated houses. During the first sampling, several mistakes in heating plant installations and management were found in all houses. Indoor BTEX concentrations increased during use of wood burning. Low toluene/benzene ratios were in agreement with wood smoke as main indoor and outdoor pollution source. Other BTEX sources were identified as the indoor use of solvents and paints and incense burning. Results obtained during 2007 were presented and discussed with homeowners. Following this preventive intervention, in the second winter sampling all indoor BTEX concentrations decreased, in spite of the colder outdoor air temperatures. Information provided to families has induced the adoption of effective good practices in stoves and fire management. These results highlight the importance of education, supported by reliable data on air pollution, as an effective method to reduce wood smoke exposures.Implications: Information about burning practices and correct installation and management of wood heaters, supported by reliable data on indoor and outdoor pollution, may help to identify and remove indoor pollution sources. This can be an effective strategy in mitigate wood smoke pollution.

Volatile Organic Compounds in Anatomical Pathology Wards: Comparative and Qualitative Assessment of Indoor Airborne Pollution

“…PerkinElmer stainless steel sampling tubes (Perkin Elmer Italia S.p.A., Milan, Italy) pre-packed with Chromosorb 106 (60/80 mesh), previously conditioned [18] were positioned in sampling areas for passive VOC monitoring, out to the direct sources, in the middle of the room or on the opposite wall. Samplings were performed for seven days, from 6 to 13 August 2015, in ward A and from 12 to 17 August 2015 in ward B.…”

“…Quantification of BTEX was performed using diffusion coefficients experimentally obtained [18]. The results have been corrected for temperature, pressure, and sampling duration.…”

Health Issues of Primary School Students Residing in Proximity of an Oil Terminal with Environmental Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds

“…PerkinElmer (Perkin Elmer Italia S.p.A.) stainless steel sample tubes prepacked with Chromosorb 106 (60/80 mesh) and previously conditioned as discussed elsewhere [ 21 , 22 ], were distributed to the children for passive VOC monitoring. They exposed the samplers outside of their home following the written instructions supplied with the questionnaire.…”

“…VOC samples were analysed using a Clarus 500 gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector (PerkinElmer) and a PerkinElmer PE-5 capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 mm) [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…All peaks with retention times (RT) between 12 min and 55 min that were present in both monitoring campaigns were examined (total VOCs); those exceeding a height set at 5 percent of the toluene peak of each sample were taken for profile evaluation; their concentrations, calculated using the toluene calibration [ 22 ], were expressed as the toluene equivalent. An identification code was assigned to each peak, formed by a capital letter corresponding to the initial letter of the reference peak and by an ordinal number corresponding to the position of the peak compared to the reference compound.…”