Forgotten problem is killing us

Wood heater smoke is hitting deadly levels across Tasmania, says Pam Allan

THERE is growing concern about wood heater pollution in Tasmania. New medical research has identified major public health costs.

Environment Protection Authority monitoring continues to reveal poor air quality in many towns caused by wood heaters. The EPA has found wood smoke in many towns regularly exceeds national air quality standards. Launceston averages a dozen over winter but New Norfolk, Longford, Perth, Hadspen and Geeveston might have 40 to 50. Some unlucky residents can be exposed every winter’s night to harmful emissions from neighbouring chimneys.

State government has largely focused on campaigns to improve the quality of emissions or wean people off wood heaters altogether. The Launceston Wood Heater Replacement Scheme in 2001 showed replacing older heaters improved air quality significantly.

For many Tasmanians, wood heaters are accessible and cost-effective. For others a wood heater is a desirable aesthetic. Who doesn’t enjoy snuggling up in front of the fire on a winter’s night? What about the satisfaction from building the woodpile? Fiona Stocker wrote in “The Apple Island Wife” the woodpile became her favourite activity on her small northern farm.

Menzies Institute for Medical Research data this year concluded wood heater smoke costs our health system nearly $300 million in treatment of health impacts (including deaths) each year. In April, Harvard University released initial research showed long term exposure to fine particulate matter such as in wood smoke increased vulnerability to COVID-19 serious illness or death. European cities have similar studies linking COVID symptoms to air quality.

The EPA’s focus is on improving burning habits. Councils pinpoint poorly performing chimneys and flues. Performance by heaters and councils is patchy. Council officers look for dense and regular plumes. Then what? An attempt to get the heater checked to improve efficiency followed by advice about using dry, seasoned wood to reduce smoke. In the last resort a fine.

The issue struggles for recognition. Southern Tasmania sees it as a northern issue. But towns in the South have similar problems.

Even at the end of Launceston’s replacement scheme, the CSIRO estimated 30 per cent of households still used wood as the main form of heating. Implementing new rules will not be an easy task for government. Small steps might begin as housing estates are developed. Councils could implement a policy of no wood heaters in certain precincts. New developments in Hobart and Launceston could ban wood heaters altogether.

In New Zealand, councils identify sources of pollution and after community consultation adopt a plan to reduce impact of smoke, a process underpinned by acceptance that even relatively invisible levels of particulate matter (PM) — the hanging soot — can cause health problems and premature death. More than half of air pollution in Christchurch is from wood heaters.

Brand New Zealand and Brand Tasmania are built on their pure air, with the purest air in the world in North-West Tasmania. We need to protect that air and look seriously at the health impacts of our reliance on wood heaters.