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Speciated Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Residential Biomass Combustion Appliances
Citation:
Warren, N., I. George, A. Brashear, L. Virtaranta, E. Thompson, P. Kariher, J. Martin, M. Hays, T. Yelverton, AND A. Holder. Speciated Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Residential Biomass Combustion Appliances. American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, December 12 - 16, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
Residential combustion of wood is a major source of air pollution in colder regions. In 2015 EPA introduced new regulations to further reduce the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wood stoves. There is very little information on how new stove technology may impact the emissions of hazardous air pollutants. This research examined the impact of stove type, fuel conditions, and stove operation on the emissions of a wide variety of pollutants from wood stoves.
Description:
Residential wood stoves and wood heating appliances produce smoke that contains multiple toxic pollutants, such as particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and a plethora of other air pollutants, that can contribute to poor air quality within colder regions. Emissions from residential wood heating appliances are comprised of a complex mixture of VOCs that may exacerbate health disparities not only in the communities that utilize these appliances, but also on a regional scale, as VOC emissions may lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosols. As a response to this issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented the New Source Performance Standards in 2015 to limit PM emissions from wood heating appliances. Although advancements are being made to reduce PM emissions from wood heaters as result of these emissions standards, there is still limited data on the emissions of air toxics from older as well as newer woodstoves. Therefore, the air quality and health impacts that woodstoves have on affected communities have not been fully qualified. To bridge this data gap, laboratory testing is being conducted to improve the identification of speciated air toxic VOC emissions from wood heaters and stoves. This is part of a larger research effort to quantify PM and gaseous emissions from multiple wood heating appliances. The emissions testing was conducted at EPA Office of Research and Development’s Wood Stove Test Facility in Research Triangle Park, NC. In this study, the effects of wood stove technology, fuel species and moisture level, and burn rate on emissions are being evaluated.