Houtrook en gezondheid
Switch to a Xaralyn Fireplace
Rook, ook van een houtvuur, bevat altijd schadelijke stoffen. Dus is houtrook in algemene zin schadelijk voor de gezondheid. Blootstelling vindt plaats door deze rook in te ademen.
Door het gebruik van een houtkachel, open haard, vuurkorf of barbecue komen er verontreinigende stoffen in de lucht. Dit is slecht voor de luchtkwaliteit en onze gezondheid.
Bij de verbranding van hout komen verschillende stoffen vrij. Fijnstof, koolmonoxide, vluchtige organische stoffen (VOS), polycyclische aromatische koolwaterstoffen (PAKs) en roet.
Houtstook is een grote bron van van fijnstofuitstoot. Houtstook is een grotere bron van fijnstof dan wegverkeer.
23% of the fine particulate emissions in the Netherlands are caused by wood burning. This means that wood burning has a larger share in the total fine particulate emissions than road traffic.
While our government is rapidly attempting to encourage us to drive electric cars with various subsidies, there was even a subsidy scheme for pellet stoves until recently.
Regarding one of the major contributors to fine particulate emissions, the policy of our government is focused on "providing information." Once serious policies are put in place to address one of the main sources of our fine particulate problem, the burning of wood in wood stoves and fireplaces could come to a halt quickly.
According to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the most cost-effective way to tackle air pollution is by reducing diesel vehicles without particle filters and replacing outdated wood stoves and fireplaces.
There are plenty of alternatives to wood stoves and fireplaces. An electric fireplace is extremely user-friendly, adds ambiance, and often includes a heating function. For those who appreciate real flames, a bio-ethanol fireplace offers a clean solution.
Of course, we could wait for government policies and potential subsidies on bio-ethanol fireplaces or electric fireplaces. But why not make the switch voluntarily? After all, our environment concerns us all!
