Log smoke not so bad Dhbtold

Logburner smoke does not kill people and cannot be blamed for days of high air pollution in Canterbury, independent researchers say.

Peter Moller, a rheumatologist and member of the Association for Independent Research (Air), said there were ‘‘a lot more health risks associated with people living in cold homes’’ than for exposure to smoke from woodburners.

‘‘The regulations that Environment Canterbury [ECan] tries to follow are based on incomplete science which says that all PM10 [particulate matter] is a problem, which it’s not,’’ he said.

‘‘Coal smoke and diesel smoke are a significant problem, and to reduce air pollution those are the things we should be targeting, not woodburners.’’

Smoke from woodburners did not lead to lung problems or bronchial spasms, he said.

Moller was among the people who spoke at a Canterbury District Health Board meeting this week. Moller, Pat Palmer and John Hoare, all Air members, said the board needed to recognise that woodsmoke was not responsible for pollution-related deaths in Canterbury.

ECan’s Christchurch air plan, introduced in 2010 to improve air quality, does not allow woodburners in new homes, including earthquake rebuilds, but lets houses with existing approved burners continue using them.

In April, the board voted to continue supporting the plan, with the exception of members Aaron Keown and Wendy Gilchrist, who disagree with ECan’s policy on woodburners.

The board’s report, called Housing, Home Heating and Air Quality, said premature death, respiratory disease and mental health problems were all consequences of cold homes.

It estimated air pollution in Christchurch caused 160 premature deaths each year, and smoke from woodburners was responsible for nearly 80 per cent.

Moller said the report was ‘‘done very well apart from the fact that it accepts that all PM10 is a problem’’.

Moller and Hoare have been involved with researching winter mortality and the effects of air pollution for more than 10 years.

Board members did not discuss the group’s presentation.

Chairman Bruce Matheson said its role was ‘‘simply to listen’’.