Dioxin emissions from wood combustion

The emissions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) from combustion of different kinds of wood have been determined. Emissions from natural beech wood sticks (0.019 to 0.064 ng TE/m3), natural wood chips (0.066 to 0.214 ng TE/m3) and uncoated chipboard chips (0.024 to 0.076 ng TE/m3) were low, whereas the combustion of waste wood chips resulted in higher dioxin emissions (between 2.70 and 14.42 ng TE/m3). Additionally, two specific fuels were investigated: charcoal and household waste. Charcoal used for grilling of meat resulted in the very low PCDD/PCDF emissions of 0.028 ng TE/m3, whereas the emissions from the combustible part of household waste were very high (114 ng TE/m3). Based on the specific dioxin emissions per kg of fuel, the annual emissions from combustion of wood and the specific fuels were calculated in Switzerland to be 6.9 to 43.8 g TE.