Effects of increased use of wood-burning stoves on the air pollution in residential areas

The increased use of wood-burning stoves is likely to lead to an increase in ambient air concentrations of particulate matter and other air pollutants. The study shows the influence of changes in different parameters on air pollution using representative examples. The parameters included emission rates, boundary conditions of dispersion, building structure, building density and discharge conditions. This was implemented using a detailed emission modelling scheme which generates year-long time series of emissions for single buildings. The atmospheric dispersion calculations were based on these time series of emissions. Flow fields calculated by the model MISKAM were integrated into the dispersion model AUSTAL2000. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was done varying the input parameters mentioned above. The effects of those parameters on the spatial distribution of air pollutant concentrations as well as the maximum concentrations could be demonstrated. The results of this study were included into the BIOMIS worksheet to facilitate their application.