Wood Smoke Impacts Health of Hunter Residents

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Source: The Timaru Herald

The Shire Councils of Singleton and Muswellbrook have received funding of $82,000 from the NSW Environment Protection Authority to undertake a joint wood smoke reduction campaign.

The campaign seeks to familiarise residents with the range of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases that can result from inhalation of wood smoke particles, as wood smoke is the largest contributor to air pollution in the winter months.

Mark Ihlein from the Singletown Council says rebates are to be made available for residents to remove old wood heaters in favour of installing less smoky forms of heating.

"The campaign involves encouraging residents with wood heaters to go outside and check their chimneys, and make sure that they aren't smoking too much, and if they are, to apply for the rebate for the chimney cleaning."