Modern wood heating appliances (wood stoves, boilers or furnaces) can create dense plumes of smoke for hours at a time. Whether visible or not, wood smoke contains:
Local governments may control the use of wood heating appliances through local ordinances.
The chance a person will experience health effects as a result of exposure to smoke depends on the concentration of air pollutants they breathe and the duration of their exposure.
Unfortunately, the toxic gases and fine particles in wood smoke are so small that they can penetrate into homes, even when windows and doors are closed.
If you are a homeowner with a wood heating appliance such as a wood stove or fireplace insert: