The environmental impact on air quality and exposure to carbon monoxide from charcoal production in southern Brazil

Black wattle silviculture is an important activity in southern Brazil. Much of the wood is used in the production of charcoal and the pyrolysis products impacts on air quality. This paper estimates the level of atmospheric contamination from the production of charcoal in one region of Brazil. We describe a low-cost charcoal kiln that can capture condensable gases and we estimate the levels of exposure of kiln workers to carbon monoxide. The latter results indicated that exposure to carbon monoxide can be reduced from an average of 950 ppm to 907 ppm and the mass of gases reduced by 16.8%.

► Impacts from charcoal production in southern Brazil were studied.
► Traditional charcoal kilns are not efficient and generate toxic compounds.
► Low-cost condensers have been developed to reduce emissions.
► Exposure to carbon monoxide was reduced and efficiency was increased.
► Chemicals exposure to workers and general population can be further reduced.