Aldehyde emissions from wood-burning fireplaces

Aldehyde emissions from wood-burning fireplaces were measured. Total aldehydes ranged from 0.6 to 2.3 g/kg of wood burned based on tests with cedar, jack pine, red oak, and ash. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and p-tolualdehyde were the major aldehydes emitted with formaldehyde comprising 21-42% of the total. Aldehyde and particle emissions were inversely correlated with burn rate and may also be related to wood type. On the basis of our measurements, nationwide aldehyde emissions from residental wood burning were estimated to be between 14 and 54 Gg/year. This value is comparable to both power plant and automobile aldehyde emission sources. It is likely that residental wood burning is a major source of primary aldehydes during the winter. 20 references.