PORTLAND — Preliminary findings from University of Southern Maine researchers have linked wood stoves and pellet stoves with potential indoor air quality problems.
The team of faculty and students began its work last spring, examining indoor airborne smoke and ash particles from firewood and wood pellets.
Researchers found traces of at least 10 heavy metals in wood and pellet ash, including copper, arsenic and lead. Joseph Staples, one of the principal investigators, says most of the particles were stirred up when cleaning out the ashes, not while the stove is in operation.
The health risks are uncertain. Staples says the exact numbers are difficult to quantify because little research has been conducted.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.