Summary
Fuels such as wood and forest residuals are becoming important sources of energy; furthermore, wood and wood products are major components of building construction. In both cases environmental impact and health hazard posed by the burning of these materials must be evaluated. Most death and injuries on exposure to burning wood are due to inhalation of toxic gases, smoke, and heat gases, usually carbon monoxide. Any wood or wood products used in building construction must be chosen so as to release the minimum amount of toxic materials as slowly as possible when heated or burned, to allow people time to escape. The emissions from wood burning power plants certainly have local short term and global long term environmental impacts. For example, massive carbon dioxide production from wood burning is believed to affect the earth's energy balance and therefore global climates. This review does not consider this aspect of wood burning, or other environmental hazards due to power plants utilizing wood, about which little seems to be known. The subject of this review is of the literature from 1971–1979 concerned with the toxicity of products of combustion and/or pyrolysis of wood, or wood products, untreated or treated with preservatives.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Literature
Adams, S. I., 1977: J. Combust. Toxicol. 4: 360–366
Baker, S. B.; Deco, (Ed.) 1970: Meeting Uppsala (Proc.)
Bhatnager, Y. M. (Ed.) (1976): Int. Symp. Flammability Fire Retard. Proc.
Borys, Jr. A.; Ktossowska, B.; Obiendzińsky, M., 1977: Acta. Allimen Pol. Vol. III (XXVII), No. 3, 335–345
Boudene, C.; Jouany, J. M.; Truhaut, R., 1977: J. Macromol. A 11, 1529–1545
Bush, L. S.; McLaughlin, J., 1970: Glencoe Press
Dikun, P. P.; Kestenko, L. P.; Liverovskii, A. A.; Shsnulevskaya, E.; Ramonovskaya, L.; PonKina, E., 1977: Vopr. Onkol. 23 (6): 83–85
Dobbs, A. J.; Grant, C., 1976: Build. Res. Est. Curr. Pap. CP 63/76
Dobbs, A. J.; Grant, C., 1978: Holzforschung 32: 32–35
Freyer, H. D.; Wiesberg, L., 1973: Naturwissenschaften 60: 517–518
Halido, C. J.; Lopez, M. T., 1977a: J. Cons. Prod. Flammability 4: 40–59
Halido, C. J.; Gall, L., 1977b: J. Combust. Toxicol. 4: 193–199
Halido, C. J.; Cumming, H. J.; Gall, L., 1977c: J. Combust. Toxicol. 4: 304–313
Halido, C. J.; Cumming, H. J.; Casey, C. J., 1978: Fire Technol. 14: 136–146
Hartung, R.; Ball, G. L.; Boettner, E. A.; Rosenbaum, R.; Hollingsworth, S. R., 1977: J. Combust. Toxicol. 4: 506–522
Jouany, J. M.; Truhaut, R.; Boudene, C., 1977: Arch. Mal. Prof. Hyg. Toxicol. Ind. 9: 751–772
Juon, E., 1907: Stahl Eisen 27: 733–771
Kishitani, K.; Nakamura, D., 1974: J. F.F./ Combust. Toxicol. 1: 104–123
Kishitani, K.; Nakamura, D., 1977: J. Fac. Eng. Univ. Tokyo 24: 295–313
Kollmann, F., 1960: Svensk Papperstidn. 63: 208–217
Kollmann, F. F. P.; Côté, W. A., 1968: Principles of Wood Science and Technology Vol. I, New York: Springer
Mantegaza, P.; Piccinini, F., (Eds.), 1965: Int. Symp. Milano, Proc.
Mathews, B. E., 1972: Bristol Scientechnica
McKinon, G. P. (Ed.) 1976: Nat. Fire Prot. Assoc. 14th ed., Boston, Mass.
Metz, L., 1936: Z. Ver. Deut. Ing. 80: 660–667
Rappe, C.; Marklund, S., 1978: Chemosphere 3: 269–281
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wilkins, E., Murray, F. Toxicity of emissions from combustion and pyrolysis of wood. Wood Sci.Technol. 14, 281–288 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383455
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383455