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Air pollutants often have adverse effects on human health. This paper investigates and ranks a set of policy and technological interventions intended to reduce such health costs in the high population density areas of South Africa. It initially uses a simple benefit–cost rule, later extended to capture sectoral employment impacts. Although the focus of state air quality legislation is on industrial pollutants, the most efficient interventions were found to be at household level. These included such low-cost interventions as training householders to place kindling above rather than below the coal in a fireplace and insulating roofs. The first non-household policies to emerge involved vehicle fuels and technologies. Most proposed industrial interventions failed a simple cost–benefit test. The paper''s policy messages are that interventions should begin with households and that further industry controls are not yet justifiable in their present forms as these relate to the health care costs of such interventions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on the chemical characterization of fine particle emissions from the fireplace combustion of woods grown in the U.S. Contribution of wood smoke to ambient fine particle levels; Conduction of fire place source test; List of emission factors for bulk chemical analysis.

Presents a summary of fireplace particle size and organic speciation data gathered as of May 2000. Mixture of organic compounds that have condensed into droplets; Influence of temperature on the size distribution and total mass of the droplets; Total particulate emission rates; Range of corresponding emission factors.

The article reports on the National Wood Burner Performance Review conducted by the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment (MFE). It states that the review aims to ensure that the wood burners installed in homes meets the country's environmental standards for air quality which plays essential role in preventing air pollution. The review included design verification and emissions and efficiency testing of wood burners in July 2006 and in September-December 2006. MFE stresses that the wood burners fail to comply to the requirements established under the air quality standards. The agency encourages the government to develop strategies that will help in the development of efficient wood burners which will reduce emissions in the country.