RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Health impacts of anthropogenic biomass burning in the developed world
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP ERJ-01865-2014
DO 10.1183/13993003.01865-2014
A1 Torben Sigsgaard
A1 Bertil Forsberg
A1 Isabella Annesi-Maesano
A1 Anders Blomberg
A1 Anette Bølling
A1 Christoffer Boman
A1 Jakob Bønløkke
A1 Michael Brauer
A1 Nigel Bruce
A1 Marie-Eve Héroux
A1 Maija-Riitta Hirvonen
A1 Frank Kelly
A1 Nino Künzli
A1 Bo Lundbäck
A1 Hanns Moshammer
A1 Curtis Noonan
A1 Joachim Pagels
A1 Gerd Sallsten
A1 Jean-Paul Sculier
A1 Bert Brunekreef
YR 2015
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2015/09/24/13993003.01865-2014.abstract
AB Climate change policies have stimulated a shift towards renewable energy sources such as biomass. The economic crisis of 2008 has also increased the practice of household biomass burning as it is often cheaper than using oil, gas or electricity for heating. As a result, household biomass combustion is becoming an important source of air pollutants in the European Union.This position paper discusses the contribution of biomass combustion to pollution levels in Europe, and the emerging evidence on the adverse health effects of biomass combustion products.Epidemiological studies in the developed world have documented associations between indoor and outdoor exposure to biomass combustion products and a range of adverse health effects. A conservative estimate of the current contribution of biomass smoke to premature mortality in Europe amounts to at least 40 000 deaths per year.We conclude that emissions from current biomass combustion products negatively affect respiratory and, possibly, cardiovascular health in Europe. Biomass combustion emissions, in contrast to emissions from most other sources of air pollution, are increasing. More needs to be done to further document the health effects of biomass combustion in Europe, and to reduce emissions of harmful biomass combustion products to protect public health.Biomass combustion is an important source of air pollution and ill health in the EU: emissions need to reduce http://ow.ly/RYkPk