Wood Combustion and Outdoor Wood Boilers – Background

Complaints and Problems from Wood Burning Boilers

The Department is aware some of the outdoor boilers are causing air quality problems in their neighborhood.  Some existing boilers do not have the benefit of recent cleaner design changes that better reduce the particulate matter and hydrocarbons in their exhaust; some have been sited too close to residential buildings and may also not have adequate stack height to disperse their exhaust. 

Persons that have complaints about an outdoor wood boiler can report them here or they can call the DEP toll free in Augusta at 1-800 452-1942 or the nearest DEP Regional Office -- Presque Isle at 1-800 769-1053, Bangor at 1-888-769-1137, or Portland at 1-888-769-1036.

Introduction

Maine residents have a long tradition of meeting their home heating needs by burning fire wood in residential wood stoves and furnaces. This is particularly true of those living in rural communities. Even after other home heating fuel options became available, many people have continued to rely on wood fuel, in whole or in part, to heat their homes.

As these communities grew, both in terms of population and geographic area, so did the numbers of operating wood-fired stoves and furnaces, until the volume of wood smoke emissions approached or exceeded the capacity of a given locale to disperse or otherwise dilute these emissions. In those communities where emissions from wood combustion are not adequately dispersed (due to local conditions of topography, meteorology, and/or wood stove density) measurable impacts on the environment and human health are documented. Residential wood combustion has thus become recognized as a significant source of air pollution.

The Combustion Process

Under ideal conditions, the complete combustion of wood yields carbon dioxide, water vapor, and a small quantity of mineral residue or ash. More typically, wood combustion is not complete and its emissions contain particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ash, and trace amounts of sulfur oxides.

The quantity and character of the emissions from wood combustion varies with the wood species combusted as well as with the nature and completeness of the combustion process itself. In order for the combustion process to occur, four requirements have to be met: there must be a sufficiently high temperature to initiate the pyrolysis, or thermal decomposition, of the wood fuel; there must be sufficient time at combustion temperatures to initiate the combustion of the pyrolitic gasses, and sufficient turbulence to ensure the thorough mixing of oxygen and the combustible gasses; lastly, there must be sufficient oxygen present to sustain the combustion process. Thus, ideally, at the beginning of the combustion process, the moisture contained within the wood is boiled off. As temperatures increase the pyrolysis of the wood begins as gaseous vapors and tar droplets. At sufficiently high temperature, if oxygen is present, these gases will burn with a visible flame. The remaining material is essentially carbon, with some quantity of mineral residue; the carbon is consumed as the coals of the fire, and the mineral constituents remain as the ash, following the completion of the combustion process.

Under normal conditions of operation, residential wood stoves and furnaces do not lend themselves to the complete combustion of the wood fuel. As batch-fed appliances, deficiencies in one or more of the requirements for combustion (i.e. temperature, time, oxygen, and turbulence) will occur at some point during the burn cycle (even under the best of circumstances), and inevitably result in the loss of pyrolitic gasses to the atmosphere. In fact, from the start of a fire in the woodstove until the last bit of fuel is consumed, the combustion chemistry in the firebox is in a state of flux and may never achieve (or achieve only for a portion of the burn) optimal conditions for efficient combustion. Operational controls such as damping down the woodstove to reduce the rate of fuel consumption and/or heat output creates an oxygen deficient condition in the firebox which further inhibits the combustion of the pyrolitic gasses, increasing emissions vented to the atmosphere.

Newer wood-fired home heating appliances have improved residential wood combustion processes significantly in terms of both heating efficiency and emissions. These improvements have been realized through the use of combustion air distribution systems, firebox heat management designs, and/or the use of catalysts to reduce combustion temperature thresholds. Notwithstanding the improved design characteristics, it is simply not possible to avoid intermittent or short term deficient combustion conditions without the use of auxiliary combustion management systems. In addition, the air quality benefits accruing from the turnover of older to newer wood stove technologies have not kept pace with the density of operating wood-fired residential heating units in many communities. Thus, the air quality issues associated with residential wood combustion persist.

Wood Smoke Constituents and Public Health

By design, residential woodstoves are naturally drafted and combustion typically occurs in an air-rich environment. Because of poor air/fuel mixing, however, within the same firebox a portion of the combustion air may not be sufficiently mixed with the combustion gasses to burn them completely; while elsewhere in the firebox, an abundance of combustion air may cool the gasses enough to prevent the combustion reactions from being completed. Both conditions result in reduced combustion efficiency, generating carbon monoxide and promoting the formation of fine particulates. The fine particulates are predominantly in the form of solid and condensed organic products of incomplete combustion which are ultimately vented to the atmosphere, visible as wood smoke.

The principle environmental and public health impacts associated with residential wood combustion are derived from the fine particulate fraction of the wood smoke emissions. Fine particulates are solid particles and liquid droplets characterized by having an aerodynamic (equivalent) diameter of 2.5 m m or less. Particles in this size range tend to remain airborne for extended periods of time, lending themselves to long range transport and deposition; particles in this size range also possess light scattering properties, contributing to regional haze and other visibility issues.

From a public health perspective, exposure to airborne fine particulate is a concern because the small size of the particulate defeats the body's filtering mechanisms, enabling the particles to be drawn deep into the lung. Researchers have long recognized links between elevated levels of airborne particulate to serious health issues and increased mortality among susceptible populations. Emissions from residential wood combustion in particular is a concern due to the preponderance fine particulates in wood smoke, as well as for the toxicity of some of the chemical compounds in wood smoke.

Exposure to airborne fine particulate can cause eye, nose, lung, and throat irritation; it can impair lung function and aggravate existing medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. Chronic exposure to concentrations of fine particulate has been associated with increases in respiratory and cardiovascular related hospital admissions and mortality. People with breathing problems such as bronchitis, emphysema or pneumonia, people with heart problems, babies, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to exposure to fine particulate.

In addition to the size-related hazards associated with the fine particulate fraction of wood smoke, many of the chemical compounds that comprise the fine particles are in of themselves toxic. The emissions of organic compounds generated by the incomplete combustion of the wood fuel include a group of organic compounds called polycyclic organic matter (POM). These compounds include a subgroup called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which are identified as hazardous air pollutants under Title III of the U. S. Clean Air Act of 1990.

Chemical compounds which may also be present in wood smoke include benzene, chlorinated dioxins, formaldehyde and other aldehydes, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and sulfur oxides.

Outdoor Wood-fired Boilers

During the latter part of the 1980's and throughout the 1990's an innovative technology began to appear in the residential heating appliance market. These units are frequently referred to as outdoor wood boilers. An outdoor wood boiler is essentially a free standing insulated structure in which a firebox, vented to a chimney, is surrounded by a water jacket. The unit operates as follows: wood fuel is combusted in the firebox, heating the water, which is then circulated via underground piping to a residence or other structure in order to provide space heating and/or domestic hot water.

In terms of air emissions, outdoor wood boilers are problematic. The firebox of the outdoor wood boiler is surrounded by a water jacket, in order to promote the effective heat transfer from the fire to the water reservoir. The net effect of the water jacket, however, is to reduce the combustion temperature of the fire, which in turn reduces the efficiency of the combustion process. Recalling the discussion above, lower combustion temperatures result in reduced combustion efficiency and an increase in emissions of the products of incomplete combustion.

Combustion efficiencies are degraded further by the demand/response nature of outdoor wood boiler operation. When the temperature of the heating water falls below a specified set point, additional combustion air is supplied to the firebox via either a fan or through the opening of a combustion air damper, increasing combustion and transferring the heat of that combustion to the water jacket; at an upper water temperature set point the fan is shut off and/or the combustion air damper is closed. During periods of low or no demand the fire smolders in the firebox; at these lower temperatures some portion of the smoke condenses on the internal surfaces of the unit, only to be reignited and/or vented as the fire is ramped up to meet a new demand. The emission ‘pulses' associated with load changes exacerbate an already significant emission discharge into the ambient air.

Another operational issue related to emissions is the typical year round operation of outdoor wood boilers where they are installed for the dual purposes of space heating and hot water supply. The reduced demand on these units during the warmer months means that low oxygen, low temperature conditions in the firebox will be maintained for longer and more frequent periods than would occur during colder times of the year, and will generate significantly more emissions while operating in this manner. This condition is exacerbated when the outdoor wood boiler's design capacity is oversized relative to the structure(s) being served.

Outdoor wood boilers are typically installed some distance from the buildings they are intended to heat, that distance is often governed by the cost of installation, heat losses over distance, and convenience. Almost invariably, however, the outdoor wood boilers are located close enough to the buildings they serve and have short enough chimneys to be well within the meteorological cavity or wake of the structure. The cavity or wake region of the structure is, in effect, an eddy where emissions from the outdoor wood boiler chimney have little opportunity to disperse; consequently, the concentration of wood smoke within this region is likely to increase to significant and unhealthful levels. This effect can be especially pronounced in more densely populated neighborhoods.

Bureau of Air Quality - Complaint Form

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Postal Address: Maine DEP, Bureau of Air Quality 17 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0017 Attn: Louis Fontaine

Fax Number: (207) 287-7641 Office Number: (207) 287-2437 E-mail Contact: louis.fontaine@maine.gov

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WHAT IS THE LOCATION OR ADDRESS OF THE SOURCE?

IN WHAT TOWN IS THE SOURCE LOCATED? *                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Abbot Acton Adamstown Twp Addison Albany Twp Albion Alder Brook Twp Alder Stream Twp Alexander Alfred Allagash Alna Alton Amherst Amity Andover Andover North Surplus Andover West Surplus Anson Appleton Appleton Twp Argyle Twp Arrowsic Arundel Ashland Athens Atkinson Attean Twp Auburn Augusta Aurora Avon Bailey Island Baileyville (near Calais) Bald Mountain Twp T2 R3 Bald Mountain Twp T4 R3 Baldwin Bancroft Bangor Bar Harbor Bar Mills Baring Plantation Barnard Twp Bass Harbor Batchelders Grant Bath Bayville Beals Beattie Twp Beaver Cove Beddington Belfast Belgrade Belgrade Lakes Belmont Benedicta Twp Benton Bernard Berwick Bethel Biddeford Biddeford Pool Big Moose Twp Big Six Twp Big Ten Twp Big Twenty Twp Big W Twp Bigelow Twp Bingham Birch Harbor Blaine Blake Gore Blanchard Twp Blue Hill Blue Hill Falls Boothbay Boothbay Harbor Bowdoin Bowdoin College Grant East Bowdoin College Grant West Bowdoinham Bowerbank Bowmantown Twp Bowtown Twp Bradford Bradley Bradstreet Twp Brassua Twp Bremen Brewer Bridgewater Bridgton Brighton Plt Bristol Brooklin Brooks Brooksville Brookton Twp Brownfield Brownville Brunswick Bryant Pond Buckfield Bucks Harbor Bucksport Burlington Burnham Bustins Island Buxton Byron C Surplus Calais Cambridge Camden Canaan Canton Cape Elizabeth Cape Neddick Cape Porpoise Caratunk Cardville Caribou Carmel Carrabassett Valley Carroll Plt Carrying Place Town Twp Carrying Place Twp Carthage Cary Plt Casco Castine Castle Hill Caswell Center Lovell Centerville Chain of Ponds Twp Chamberlain Chapman Charleston Charlotte Chase Stream Twp Chebeague Island Chelsea Cherryfield Chester Chesterville Chesuncook Twp China Clayton Lake Cliff Island Clifton Clinton Coburn Gore Codyville Plt Columbia Columbia Falls Comstock Twp Concord Twp Connor Twp Cooper Coopers Mills Coplin Plt Corea Corinna Corinth Cornish Cornville Costigan Cove Point Twp Cox Patent Cranberry Isles Crawford Criehaven Twp Crystal Cumberland Cumberland Center Cushing Cutler Cyr Plt Dallas Plt Damariscotta Danforth Danville Davis Twp Days Academy Grant Dayton Dead River Twp Deblois Dedham Deer Isle Denmark Dennistown Plt Dennysville Detroit Devereaux Twp Dexter Dixfield Dixmont Dole Brook Twp Dover-Foxcroft Dresden Drew Plt Dryden Dudley Twp Durham Dyer Brook Dyer Twp E Twp Eagle Lake Eagle Lake Twp East Andover East Baldwin East Boothbay East Corinth East Dixfield East Eddington East Holden East Lebanon East Livermore East Machias East Middlesex Canal Grant East Millinocket East Moxie Twp East Orland East Parsonfield East Peru East Poland East Sebago East Stoneham East Waterboro East Waterford East Wilton East Winthrop Eastbrook Easton Eastport Eddington Edgecomb Edinburg Edmunds Twp Eliot Elliottsville Twp Ellsworth Elm Stream Twp Embden Emery Mills Enfield Etna Eustis Exeter Fairfield Falmouth Farmingdale Farmington Fayette Five Islands Flagstaff Twp Forest City Twp Forest Twp Forkstown Twp Forsyth Twp Fort Fairfield Fort Kent Fowler Twp Frankfort Franklin Freedom Freeman Twp Freeport Frenchboro Frenchtown Twp Frenchville Friendship Frye Frye Island Fryeburg Gardiner Garfield Plt Garland Georgetown Gilead Glen Cove Glenburn Glenwood Plt Gorham Gorham Gore Gouldsboro Grafton Twp Grand Falls Plt Grand Isle Grand Lake Stream Plt Gray Great Pond Greenbush Greene Greenfield Greenville Greenville Junction Greenwood Grindstone Twp Guilford Hallowell Hamlin Hammond Hammond Twp Hampden Hancock Hanover Harborside (Brooksville) Harfords Point Twp Harmony Harpswell Harrington Harrison Hartford Hartland Haynesville Hebron Hermon Hersey Herseytown Twp Hibberts Gore Highland Plt Hiram Hobbstown Twp Hodgdon Holden Holeb Twp Hollis Hope Hopkins Academy Grant Houlton Howland Hudson Indian Island Indian Stream Twp Indian Twp Res Industry Island Falls Islands of Moosehead Lake Isle au Haut Islesboro Jackman Jackson Jay Jefferson Jim Pond Twp Johnson Mountain Twp Jonesboro Jonesport Katahdin Iron Works Twp Kenduskeag Kennebunk Kennebunkport Kents Hill Kezar Falls Kibby Twp Kineo Twp King & Bartlett Twp Kingfield Kingman Twp Kingsbury Plt Kittery Kittery Point Knox Kossuth Twp Lagrange Lake View Plt Lakeville Lambert Lake Twp Lamoine Lang Twp Lebanon Lee Leeds Levant Lewiston Lexington Twp Liberty Lille Lily Bay Twp Limerick Limestone Limington Lincoln Lincoln Center Lincoln Plt Lincolnville Lincolnville Center Linneus Lisbon Lisbon Center Lisbon Falls Litchfield Little Deer Isle Little W Twp Littleton Livermore Livermore Falls Lobster Twp Locke Mills Long A Twp Long Island Long Pond Twp Lovell Lowell Lowelltown Twp Lower Cupsuptic Twp Lower Enchanted Twp Lubec Ludlow Lyman Lynchtown Twp Machias Machiasport Macwahoc Plt Madawaska Madison Madrid Twp Magalloway Plt Manchester Mapleton Mariaville Marion Twp Mars Hill Marshfield Masardis Mason Twp Massachusetts Gore Matinicus Matinicus Island Plt Mattamiscontis Twp Mattawamkeag Maxfield Mayfield Twp Mechanic Falls Meddybemps Medford Medomak Medway Mercer Merrill Merrill Merrill Strip Mexico Milbridge Milford Millinocket Milo Milton Twp Minot Misery Gore Misery Twp Molunkus Twp Monhegan Plt Monmouth Monroe Monson Monticello Montville Moody (Ogunquit) Moose River Moosehead Junction Twp Moro Plt Morrill Moscow Mount Abram Twp Mount Chase Mount Desert Mount Katahdin Twp Mount Vernon Moxie Gore Mussel Ridge Shoals Twp Naples Nashville Plt Nesourdnahunk Twp New Canada New Gloucester New Harbor New Limerick New Portland New Sharon New Sweden New Vineyard Newagen Newburgh Newcastle Newfield Newport Newry No 14 Twp No 21 Twp Nobleboro Norridgewock North Amity North Anson North Berwick North Bridgton North Brooklin North Edgecomb North Fryeburg North Haven North Monmouth North New Portland North Shapleigh North Turner North Vassalboro North Waterboro North Whitefield North Yarmouth North Yarmouth Academy Grant Northeast Carry Twp Northfield Northport Norway Oakfield Oakland Ocean Park Ogunquit Olamon Old Orchard Beach Old Town Oqiton Twp Oquossoc Orient Orland Orneville Twp Orono Orrington Orrs Island Osborn Otis Otisfield Owls Head Oxbow Plt Oxbow Twp Oxford Palermo Palmyra Paris Parkertown Twp Parkman Parlin Pond Twp Parmachenee Twp Parsonsfield Passadumkeag Patten Pejepscot Pemaquid Pembroke Penobscot Penobscot Indian Nation Perham Perkins Twp Perkins Twp (Swan Island) Perry Peru Phillips Phippsburg Pierce Pond Twp Pittsfield Pittston Pittston Academy Grant Pleasant Point Pleasant Ridge Plt Plymouth Plymouth Twp Poland Poland Spring Port Clyde Portage Lake Porter Portland Pownal Prentiss Twp T4 R4 NBKP Prentiss Twp T7 R3 NBPP Presque Isle Princeton Prospect Prospect Harbor Pukakon Twp Rainbow Twp Randolph Rangeley Rangeley Plt Raymond Readfield Redington Twp Reed Plt Richardsontown Twp Richmond Riley Twp Ripley Robbinston Rockland Rockport Rockwood Rockwood Strip T1 R1 NBKP Rockwood Strip T2 R1 NBKP Rome Roque Bluffs Round Pond Roxbury Rumford Rumford Center Rumford Point Russell Pond Twp Sabattus Saco Saint Agatha Saint Albans Saint Croix Twp Saint David Saint Francis Saint George Saint John Plt Saint John Twp Sakom Twp Salem Twp Sandbar Tract Sandwich Academy Grant Sandy Bay Twp Sandy River Plt Sanford Sangerville Sapling Twp Sargentville Scarborough Seal Cove Searsmont Searsport Sebago Sebasco Sebec Seboeis Plt Seboomook Twp Sedgwick Seven Ponds Twp Shapleigh Shawtown Twp Sherman Sherman Mills Shirley Sidney Silver Ridge Twp Sinclair Skinner Twp Skowhegan Small Point Smithfield Smyrna Soldier Pond Soldiertown Twp T2 R3 NBKP Soldiertown Twp T2 R7 WELS Solon Somerville Soper Mountain Twp Sorrento South Berwick South Bristol South Casco South China South Freeport South Gardiner South Gouldsboro South Harpswell South Hiram South Paris South Portland South Thomaston South Waterford Southport Southwest Harbor Spencer Bay Twp Springfield Springvale Spruce Head Squapan Twp Squaretown Twp Squirrel Island Stacyville Standish Starks Steep Falls Stetson Stetsontown Twp Steuben Stockholm Stockton Springs Stoneham Stonington Stow Stratton Strong Sullivan Summit Twp Sumner Sunset Surry Swans Island Swanville Sweden T1 R10 WELS T1 R11 WELS T1 R12 WELS T1 R13 WELS T1 R5 WELS T1 R6 WELS T1 R8 WELS T1 R9 WELS T10 R10 WELS T10 R11 WELS T10 R12 WELS T10 R13 WELS T10 R14 WELS T10 R15 WELS T10 R16 WELS T10 R3 WELS T10 R6 WELS T10 R7 WELS T10 R8 WELS T10 R9 WELS T10 SD T11 R10 WELS T11 R11 WELS T11 R12 WELS T11 R13 WELS T11 R14 WELS T11 R15 WELS T11 R16 WELS T11 R17 WELS T11 R3 NBPP T11 R4 WELS T11 R7 WELS T11 R8 WELS T11 R9 WELS T12 R10 WELS T12 R11 WELS T12 R12 WELS T12 R13 WELS T12 R14 WELS T12 R15 WELS T12 R16 WELS T12 R17 WELS T12 R7 WELS T12 R8 WELS T12 R9 WELS T13 R10 WELS T13 R11 WELS T13 R12 WELS T13 R13 WELS T13 R14 WELS T13 R15 WELS T13 R16 WELS T13 R5 WELS T13 R7 WELS T13 R8 WELS T13 R9 WELS T14 R10 WELS T14 R11 WELS T14 R12 WELS T14 R13 WELS T14 R14 WELS T14 R15 WELS T14 R16 WELS T14 R5 WELS T14 R6 WELS T14 R7 WELS T14 R8 WELS T14 R9 WELS T15 R10 WELS T15 R11 WELS T15 R12 WELS T15 R13 WELS T15 R14 WELS T15 R15 WELS T15 R5 WELS T15 R6 WELS T15 R8 WELS T15 R9 WELS T16 MD T16 R12 WELS T16 R13 WELS T16 R14 WELS T16 R4 WELS T16 R5 WELS T16 R6 WELS T16 R8 WELS T16 R9 WELS T17 R12 WELS T17 R13 WELS T17 R14 WELS T17 R3 WELS T17 R4 WELS T17 R5 WELS T18 ED BPP T18 MD BPP T18 R10 WELS T18 R11 WELS T18 R12 WELS T18 R13 WELS T19 ED BPP T19 MD BPP T19 R11 WELS T19 R12 WELS T2 R10 WELS T2 R12 WELS T2 R13 WELS T2 R4 WELS T2 R8 NWP T2 R8 WELS T2 R9 NWP T2 R9 WELS T22 MD T24 MD BPP T25 MD BPP T26 ED BPP T27 ED BPP T28 MD T3 Indian Purchase T3 Indian Purchase T3 ND T3 R1 NBPP T3 R10 WELS T3 R11 WELS T3 R12 WELS T3 R13 WELS T3 R3 WELS T3 R4 BKP WKR T3 R4 WELS T3 R5 BKP WKR T3 R7 WELS T3 R8 WELS T3 R9 NWP T30 MD BPP T31 MD BPP T32 MD T34 MD T35 MD T36 MD BPP T37 MD BPP T39 MD T4 Indian Purchase T4 Indian Purchase T4 ND T4 R10 WELS T4 R11 WELS T4 R12 WELS T4 R13 WELS T4 R14 WELS T4 R15 WELS T4 R17 WELS T4 R3 WELS T4 R5 NBKP T4 R7 WELS T4 R8 WELS T4 R9 NWP T4 R9 WELS T40 MD T41 MD T42 MD BPP T43 MD BPP T5 ND BPP T5 R1 NBPP T5 R11 WELS T5 R12 WELS T5 R14 WELS T5 R15 WELS T5 R17 WELS T5 R18 WELS T5 R19 WELS T5 R20 WELS T5 R6 BKP WKR T5 R7 BKP WKR T5 R7 WELS T5 R8 WELS T5 R9 NWP T5 R9 WELS T6 ND BPP T6 R1 NBPP T6 R10 WELS T6 R11 WELS T6 R12 WELS T6 R13 WELS T6 R14 WELS T6 R15 WELS T6 R17 WELS T6 R18 WELS T6 R6 WELS T6 R7 WELS T6 R8 WELS T7 R10 WELS T7 R11 WELS T7 R12 WELS T7 R13 WELS T7 R14 WELS T7 R15 WELS T7 R16 WELS T7 R17 WELS T7 R18 WELS T7 R19 WELS T7 R5 WELS T7 R6 WELS T7 R7 WELS T7 R8 WELS T7 R9 NWP T7 R9 WELS T7 SD T8 R10 WELS T8 R11 WELS T8 R14 WELS T8 R15 WELS T8 R16 WELS T8 R17 WELS T8 R18 WELS T8 R19 WELS T8 R3 NBPP T8 R3 WELS T8 R4 NBPP T8 R5 WELS T8 R6 WELS T8 R7 WELS T8 R8 WELS T8 R9 WELS T8 SD T9 R10 WELS T9 R11 WELS T9 R12 WELS T9 R13 WELS T9 R14 WELS T9 R15 WELS T9 R16 WELS T9 R17 WELS T9 R18 WELS T9 R3 WELS T9 R4 WELS T9 R5 WELS T9 R7 WELS T9 R8 WELS T9 R9 WELS T9 SD TA R10 WELS TA R11 WELS TA R2 WELS TA R7 WELS Talmadge Taunton & Raynham Academy Grant TB R10 WELS TB R11 WELS TC R2 WELS TD R2 WELS Temple Tenants Harbor The Forks Plt Thomaston Thorndike Thorndike Twp Tim Pond Twp Tomhegan Twp Topsfield Topsham Township 6 North of Weld Township C Township D Township E Tremont Trenton Trescott Twp Trevett Trout Brook Twp Troy Turner Turner Center TX R14 WELS Union Unity Unity Twp Upper Cupsuptic Twp Upper Enchanted Twp Upper Molunkus Twp Upton Van Buren Vanceboro Vassalboro Veazie Veazie Gore Verona Vienna Vinalhaven Wade Waite Waldo Waldoboro Wales Wallagrass Walpole Waltham Warren Washburn Washington Washington Twp Waterboro Waterford Waterville Wayne Webbertown Twp Webster Plt Weeks Mills (near New Sharon) Weeks Mills (near S. China) Weld Wellington Wells Wesley West Baldwin West Bath West Bethel West Boothbay Harbor West Bowdoin West Buxton West Forks Plt West Gardiner West Kennebunk West Middlesex Canal Grant West Minot West Newfield West Paris West Peru West Poland West Rockport West Southport West Sullivan West Sumner West Tremont Westbrook Westfield Westmanland Weston Westport Whitefield Whiting Whitneyville Williamsburg Twp Willimantic Wilton Windham Windsor Winn Winslow Winter Harbor Winterport Winterville Plt Winthrop Wiscasset Woodland (near Calais) Woodland (near Caribou) Woodstock Woodville Woolwich Wyman Twp Wytopitlock Yarmouth York

WHAT IS THE SOURCE'S TELEPHONE NUMBER (if known)?

PLEASE DESCRIBE IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE THE NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT: *

Outdoor Wood Boiler Information

The Board of Environmental Protection held a public hearing on August 16, 2007 and heard testimony on the proposed Chapter 150 Control of Emissions from Outdoor Wood Boilers. The Board accepted written comments until August 31, 2007. Chapter 150 establishes requirements for the sale and installation of new outdoor wood boilers, including particulate emission standards and requirements for setback and stack height, analysis for commercial outdoor wood boilers and outdoor wood boilers greater than 350,000 BTU/hr, certification, sell-through of existing inventory, and labeling. The rule also contains general provisions which apply to all OWB. These provisions include prohibited and allowed fuels, visible emissions standards, notice to buyers, and owner manual requirements. In addition, pursuant to the new legislation, for the purpose of this rule the Department included a definition of “nuisance” and a method by which a nuisance condition can be identified.

• Chapter 150, Control of Emissions from Outdoor Wood Boilers
• Smoke Gets in Your Lungs: Outdoor Wood Boilers in New York State
• NESCAUM's Assessment of Outdoor Wood Fired Boilers
• Summary of Maine Town Ordinances
• ME DEP OWB Modeling Results
• Position Paper on Outdoor Wood Boilers, Maine Air Toxics Advisory Committee, Revised 12/12/2006
• An Assessment of Risk from Particulate released from Outdoor Wood Boilers; Brown, et al
• Comments
• Response to Comments
• EPA Fact Sheets (Basic Information) EPA FAQ's
• EPA - Health and Environment
• EPA Outdoor Wood Boiler Voluntary Program
• EPA Outdoor Wood Boiler Voluntary Program Fact Sheet
• EPA Understanding the Orange Tag

WOODSMOKE

These web pages present a snapshot of information available from various publications in print or online. Visit the links on the last web page of this section for more details.

A fire that is burning properly produces little or no visible smoke from the chimney or smokestack. If you see a lot of smoke coming from a chimney or stack, that's increased air pollution from inefficient combustion. All wood smoke, whether visible or not, can affect the health of everyone in the neighborhood. So it is important to balance an individual's right to use wood to heat their household with the right of others to breathe clean air.

There is a myth that because it is ‘natural' wood burning has little impact on health. Another myth is that it is less harmful than other home heating fuels. The information below and on the ‘Health Effects of Wood Smoke' page refutes these myths.

On these pages the terms ‘wood smoke' or ‘particle pollution' will be used depending on what is meant in that particular sentence. ‘Wood smoke' is an all-encompassing term which includes gases, and various sizes of particles and may or may not be visible. ‘Particle pollution' (aka fine particles or particulate matter which is often abbreviated as PM) will refer only to fine particles, which are so tiny they remain airborne longer and can penetrate lung tissue. Wood smoke found indoors may come directly from a woodstove/fireplace or from outdoor wood smoke that has penetrated the building.

Wood smoke contains harmful chemical substances such as: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dioxin, and inhalable particles. Some of the VOCs are irritating, toxic, and/or cancer causing. Toxic air pollutants are a potentially important component of wood smoke. A group of air toxics found in smoke known as polycyclic organic matter includes potential carcinogens such as benzo(a)pyrene.

One of the biggest threats to human health from wood smoke, indoors or outdoors, comes from particle pollution. Particle pollution is emitted from the combustion of any fuel, however on these pages we will focus on particle pollution caused by burning wood. Particle pollution from wood burning is composed of wood tars, soot, and ashes, some of which are harmful or toxic.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF WOODSMOKE

Wood smoke may smell good and bring pleasant memories but it's not good for your health. So it's a good idea to avoid breathing smoke if you can help it.

As mentioned previously, the biggest health threat from wood smoke comes from particle pollution. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Particle pollution can also aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases—and is linked to premature deaths in people with these chronic conditions.

Many studies around the world have shown that higher particle pollution levels from wood smoke result in more visits to the hospital with respiratory complaints. Pediatricians have long known that children in homes heated by wood have more upper and lower respiratory complaints and illnesses than children in homes heated by other sources of fuel. Even physically fit, healthy firefighters display reductions in some lung functions following a battle with a wild fire (forest fire). These statements are just a sampling from a growing body of evidence that both acute and chronic exposures to wood smoke are associated with adverse health impacts. Clearly, wood smoke can and does impact the health of those breathing it.

Some people are more susceptible than others:

• If you have heart or lung disease, such as congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or asthma, you may experience symptoms sooner and at lower smoke levels than healthy people.

If you have a lung disease, and you are exposed to particle pollution, you may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal. You may have respiratory symptoms including coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort, wheezing and shortness of breath.

In people with heart disease, short-term exposures to particle pollution have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias. If you have heart disease, particles may cause you to experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

• Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke, possibly because they are more likely to have chronic heart or lung diseases than younger people. Another possibility, hinted at in the literature, is that repeated exposure, even to lower levels of particle pollution, including that from wood smoke, over a lifetime may contribute to an increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses and complaints, although more studies need to be conducted to prove or disprove this possibility.

• Children also are more susceptible to wood smoke for several reasons: their respiratory systems are still developing; they breathe more air (thus air pollution) per pound of body weight than adults; and they are more likely to be active which increases their respiratory rates and thus the amount of pollution inhaled.  A number of studies have demonstrated clear links between higher particle pollution levels due to wood smoke and respiratory illnesses and complaints in children.

• A literature survey on the subject has indicated that females face a higher risk for health impacts from wood smoke exposure than males. Since some studies were conducted in developing countries it may merely reflect that women are more likely than men to be doing the cooking over un-vented or poorly vented fires. If that is the case it would be an indication of frequency, duration and concentration of exposure to wood smoke rather than a biological difference between males and females. It will be interesting to see if future studies indicate whether it is exposure alone or if biology also contributes to this difference.

WOODSMOKE AND AIR QUALITY FORECASTING

Maine DEP's Bureau of Air Quality's Meteorologists forecast air quality year-round so people can take precautions to protect their health when air quality is poor.

Air quality forecasts are issued for ozone and particle pollution for 7 regions in Maine plus a high elevation site.

Ozone levels are low during the winter and peak during the summer. ‘Ozone season' currently runs from April 1 st through September 30 th . [If/when EPA lowers the ozone standard, ozone season may begin earlier and end later.]

Woodsmoke contains particle pollution and contributes to poor air quality in Maine.

Particle pollution can occur year-round in Maine. However, it peaks in the summer due to regional events including those triggered by wildfires. It also peaks during the winter mostly due to several factors on the local level (covered on the ‘Wood Smoke in Maine ' page) along with an occasional regional event. Spring and autumn experience fewer days when particle pollution levels are a health issue.

The forecast of particle pollution levels is based on what has been learned at monitoring locations in Maine. These lessons are then used to forecast 'worst case' particle pollution levels for an entire region taking into account the likely contribution of woodsmoke especially during the winter months.

People with existing lung or heart disease who limit their exposure to poor air quality are able to reduce the amount of medication needed, lessen the likelihood that they need to visit a doctor or an emergency department and lower their risk of serious complications.

Forecasts are issued using EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI) which includes appropriate health messages depending on the category. [Most health messages encourage people to reduce ‘prolonged' or ‘heavy' exertion. This does NOT mean that people shouldn't exercise just that they should do so intelligently. To find out what that entails go to ‘Smart Exercise'.]

Air Quality forecasts are available:

• Via toll free hotline (800) 223-1196,
• Via the web on DEP's Air Quality Forecast page (there is a wealth of air quality information available from these pages including current air quality data, air quality trends, etc.),
• Via EPA's AIRNOW web site,
• Via email through EPA's EnviroFlash [Type in your zip code and select the AQI level at which you wish to receive the emails. If you are sensitive to poor air quality it is suggested you select the ‘Moderate' level. Otherwise, we suggest you select the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' level.], and
• When air quality is expected to be unhealthful Maine DEP issues a press release to the media and cooperates with the National Weather Service to issue an ‘Air Quality Alert'.

So protect your health and ‘Keep an eye on the AQI' .

WOODSMOKE IN MAINE

In Maine , with cold winters and a forested landscape, wood is an obvious choice for home heating. First, wood continues to be plentiful and second wood has been used to heat dwellings since the first people began to live here. Because of its long history of use, there is a myth that burning wood is less harmful than other home heating fuels. The information on other pages demonstrates why this is NOT the case. This page deals with the potential for wood smoke to impact public health in Maine .

Winter typically brings long cold nights. When these nights are dry, windless and cloudless the ground cools more rapidly than the air aloft. Given these conditions an inversion is created. Inversions act like a cap or a ceiling preventing local emissions from rising. In view of the fact that this type of inversion is created during the night it is often called a nocturnal inversion. There is more information about inversions at the bottom of this page.

Nocturnal inversions during the winter occur at a time when there is likely to be more emissions from home heating fuels; so pollution, including wood smoke, builds up. Particle pollution levels are usually highest in the morning hours. If the rest of the day is marked by little wind and/or little vertical mixing pollution levels may not decrease. Depending on how high the levels built up overnight and whether or not they drop off during the day, particle pollution may be classified as ‘Moderate'* for that day.

Maine experiences a number of days with Moderate levels of particle pollution during the winter months, even when much of New England might have lower levels of particle pollution.

In the image to the left, you will notice that the 24-hour average particle pollution levels in New England were mostly ‘Good'* except those areas affected by inversions on this winter night. This is a sign of a local, rather than a regional event because a regional event would have caused more uniformly Moderate levels of particle pollution. The night of December 5/6, 2006 was marked by clear skies and little or no wind.

DEP Air Quality Meteorologists forecast air quality year-round.

In many areas of the state, one must also take into account the influence of terrain on particle pollution concentrations. Valley walls hinder the atmosphere's ability to dilute locally emitted pollutants, including wood smoke.

Based on information gleaned from the 2000 census, suburban areas have the greatest density of households including those that heat with wood while rural areas have a greater percentage of wood burning households. Terrain combined with density means that suburban valleys have the greatest potential for problems stemming from wood smoke. Nevertheless, rural areas, even with a lower density of households, can still encounter problems stemming from wood smoke because of the inversion with or without terrain influence.

Hence, it is important for everyone using a wood burning device of any kind to follow manufacturer, state and federal recommendations for placement, operation and maintenance of the unit. It is in the public's best interest to promote the use of efficient wood burning devices that improve combustion and reduce emissions, thus reducing the impacts of wood smoke. More information is available on the ‘Reducing Impacts of Wood Smoke' page.

* ‘Moderate' and ‘Good are categories of the Air Quality Index (AQI).

More About Inversions

Since ‘inversion' simply means the temperature increases with height there are other types of inversions but they are not the focus of this discussion. The greater the difference between the temperature near the ground and the air aloft, the stronger the inversion. Inversions can be shallow or deep depending on the location and other circumstances.

The sun always radiates energy to the ground and the ground always radiates energy away. The ground cools at night because the energy continues to radiate away from the ground with little coming in since that part of the earth is turned away from the sun. Snow cover contributes to the cooling in two ways: 1) it acts like a blanket over the ground keeping the soil from warming the air above it by conduction (touching), and 2) snow is a good emitter of infrared radiation.

Strong nocturnal inversions develop during long, dry, windless and cloudless nights because:

• Longer nights have a better chance for a strong inversion to form. The surface radiates infrared energy better than air. The longer the night, the more likely it is for a large difference between the air near the surface and air aloft.
• Dry conditions help inversion formation. Moisture at the surface or in the air hinders night-time cooling because as the air cools water vapor condenses and releases energy which ‘heats' the air around it.
• Calm conditions allow inversions to form because the surface and the air above it don't interact with the air aloft. Wind mechanically mixes the air which decreases the difference in temperature so inversions are hindered.
• Clear nights also allow inversions to form because the energy continues to radiate away from the surface. Clouds absorb and radiate the energy back to the ground reducing how much it cools which hinders the development of an inversion.

REDUCING IMPACTS OF WOODSMOKE

Wood is a natural and renewable resource if harvested in a sustainable manner. However, the environmental benefits are canceled if people use inefficient wood burning devices that emit high amounts of fine particles and toxics. I t is important to protect the health of those in, around, downwind and uphill of a household using a wood burning device.

Wood stove and outdoor wood boiler (OWB, aka hydronic heaters) owners can help reduce pollution by following recommendations for buying, siting, installing, operating and maintaining their wood stoves or OWBs.

Lower levels of pollution are emitted when seasoned firewood is burned in a manner that promotes complete combustion. Small, hot fires are better than large smoldering fires. For improved draft and combustion, as well as safety, the chimney or stack should be cleaned as directed by the manufacturer. Another important recommendation is not to install any device, such as the ‘rainhat' shown to the right, which impedes or reduces the vertical momentum of smoke out the stack. Vertical momentum helps to spread the wood smoke over a greater volume of air and also pushes wood smoke further above the ground thus diluting concentrations especially at ground level. The tips mentioned above along with government and manufacturer recommendations balance an individual's right to use wood for household heat with the right of others to breathe clean air.

Newer wood stoves are engineered to burn more efficiently and reduce pollution. Look for EPA certified wood stoves when installing/replacing wood stoves.

Fireplaces are not very efficient for household heating and allow more wood smoke to remain in the dwelling. If you have a fireplace, consider installing an EPA certified fireplace insert.

OWBs have been a controversial form of heating with wood in the US and Canada for several years. The controversy is caused largely by the smoke and health impacts that the emissions from OWBs have on neighbors, but there has also been concern about the use of the units to illegally burn materials other than seasoned firewood.

If you are considering an OWB you should:

•  Look for a unit that has been engineered to emit less pollution this may also mean it is more efficient which could save you money in the long run,

•  Choose a unit that is the proper size for your heating requirements,

•  Check the regulations for siting criteria to see if you can meet them, and

•  Follow the operation and maintenance guidelines of these units.

For the foreseeable future, EPA is not proposing to regulate OWBs. Therefore, Maine DEP is working on regulations to minimize the impact OWBs have on air pollution in residential neighborhoods to protect the health of your own household as well as your neighbors.

WOODSMOKE REFERENCE AND LINKS OF INTEREST

Many of these links will take you outsite of the Maine.gov website

DEP AIR QUALITY:

Air Quality Forecasting: http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/ozone/

Woodstoves: http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/education/woodstv.htm

Outdoor Wood Boilers: http://www.maine..gov/dep/air/woodcombustion.htm

Air Quality and You: http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/education/airandu.htm

State Fire Marshall: http://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/index.htm

EPA on Woodstoves:

Clean Burning Woodstoves: http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/index.html

Healthy Home: http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/healthier.html

Health Effects of Woodsmoke: http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/healtheffects.html

Cleaner Burning Fireplaces: http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/fireplaces.html

Tips for a better fire: http://www.epa.gov/woodstoves/pdfs/epa_bcflyer_press_rev4.pdf

Other Links:

Outdoor Woodboilers: http://www.nescaum.org/topics/outdoor-hydronic-heaters/

Outdoor Woodboilers Facts & Info: http://www.vtwoodsmoke.org/

American Lung Association of Maine:

Topics page: http://www.mainelung.org/Topics/healthy-air.asp

Reference:

Woodsmoke Health Effects: A Review; Naeher, et al; Copyright Informa Healthcare; Inhalation Toxicology, 19:67—106, 2007; ISSN: 0895-8378 print/online 1091-7691