"Air pollution from wood burning and gas cooking is massively costly to our healthcare systems and the economy. These are the conclusions of a peer-reviewed study from New Zealand that calculated the cost of hospital treatment, days off ill and early deaths from the air pollution produced by fireplaces, stoves, gas cooking and un-flued room heaters. Indoor air pollution from New Zealand's 523,000 wood burners was"
"Breathing fumes from gas cooking indoors created more than 1,000 hospital admissions, 208 early deaths and more than 3,000 new cases of childhood asthma each year. Dr Gareth Gretton, from the New Zealand government's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, said: We were aware of growing international evidence of the importance of indoor air quality, but we did not have a method for quantifying the cost of air pollution from gas and wood burning appliances."
"Open fires were found to be the most harmful way to heat a home. The health impacts of extra air pollution breathed in each house with a fire led to an annual cost of around NZ$53,400 (23,000) to the New Zealand healthcare system and economy. This assumes a household of two adults and two children who are exposed to air pollution indoors from their open fire."
Indoor air pollution from New Zealand's 523,000 wood burners accounts for an estimated 446 hospital admissions for heart and lung problems and 101 early deaths annually. Gas cooking indoors produces more than 1,000 hospital admissions, about 208 early deaths, and over 3,000 new cases of childhood asthma each year. Open fires are the most harmful home heating method, costing around NZ$53,400 annually per household of four in combined healthcare and economic impacts. Modern wood stoves still create indoor pollution, costing about NZ$1,800 per household per year. Gas cooking pollution costs about NZ$9,200 per household annually. Indoor air quality exposure assessment is complex and challenging to quantify.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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