Domestic sources

In metropolitan Sydney, 93 per cent of household particle (PM10) emissions come from wood heaters
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicolai

The domestic sector mainly refers to households. Each of us living in NSW influences our air quality through our everyday actions and choices.

Right now, households and the commercial sector are responsible for most of the state's VOC emissions (a precursor of ground-level ozone), mainly from using solvents (in paints, etc) and other activities.

In metropolitan Sydney, 93 per cent of the particle (PM₁₀) emissions by households come from wood heaters. This is a good example of pollution changing throughout the year as wood heaters account for up to 43 per cent of PM₁₀ emissions in winter but only 3 per cent in summer. Using wood and coal for heating and cooking also create a fair share of PM₁₀ emissions in rural areas.

Wood heaters don't just create particle pollution. Wood smoke is actually made up of a range of substances – carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, reactive organic compounds (ROCs) and other lesser known substances, such as acrolein, dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene – none of which are terribly good for you.

In regional areas, burning off also creates this same pollution.

Find out what you can do to clear the air of wood smoke.

In metropolitan Sydney, 93 per cent of household particle (PM10) emissions come from wood heaters
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicolai

The domestic sector mainly refers to households. Each of us living in NSW influences our air quality through our everyday actions and choices.

Right now, households and the commercial sector are responsible for most of the state's VOC emissions (a precursor of ground-level ozone), mainly from using solvents (in paints, etc) and other activities.

In metropolitan Sydney, 93 per cent of the particle (PM₁₀) emissions by households come from wood heaters. This is a good example of pollution changing throughout the year as wood heaters account for up to 43 per cent of PM₁₀ emissions in winter but only 3 per cent in summer. Using wood and coal for heating and cooking also create a fair share of PM₁₀ emissions in rural areas.

Wood heaters don't just create particle pollution. Wood smoke is actually made up of a range of substances – carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides, reactive organic compounds (ROCs) and other lesser known substances, such as acrolein, dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene – none of which are terribly good for you.

In regional areas, burning off also creates this same pollution.

Find out what you can do to clear the air of wood smoke.

Another important issue for households is indoor air quality. Sometimes air is more polluted inside our homes than outside and, according to the CSIRO, the average Australian spends 95 per cent of their time indoors.

'Indoors' means any non-industrial indoor space where a person spends an hour or more in any one day. This can include homes, schools, offices, cars, shopping centres, restaurants, hospitals, and so on.

What's worrying is that pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes and pesticides can reach higher levels in these places than outdoors. It depends upon where these spaces are situated, how well they're ventilated and the products and materials used within them.

Another important issue for households is indoor air quality. Sometimes air is more polluted inside our homes than outside and, according to the CSIRO, the average Australian spends 95 per cent of their time indoors.

'Indoors' means any non-industrial indoor space where a person spends an hour or more in any one day. This can include homes, schools, offices, cars, shopping centres, restaurants, hospitals, and so on.

What's worrying is that pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes and pesticides can reach higher levels in these places than outdoors. It depends upon where these spaces are situated, how well they're ventilated and the products and materials used within them.

New carpet can emit pollutants
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicolai

Once you understand all the sources of indoor air pollution, it's easy to see why indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality, particularly if a building isn't well ventilated. The following all emit pollutants:

• Household products like cleaners, beauty products (hair sprays, nail polish, perfumes, deodorants, hair dyes, soap), furniture polish, aerosols like air freshener, correction fluid, garden fertiliser, pesticides, insecticides.
• New furnishings like curtains treated with anti-stain agents, new carpet, chipboard and plywood furniture, foam-upholstered furniture.
• Dry-cleaned clothes.
• Gas stoves and appliances that are unflued, ie, without a chimney.
• Building materials including paints, chipboard, floor polish, fibreglass insulation.
• Exhaust fumes entering through windows near busy roads or an adjoining garage.
• Cigarette smoke.
• Allergens such as dust, pollen and mould spores.

Read about useful ways to clear the air inside your home and workplace.

New carpet can emit pollutants
Image courtesy of Rosie Nicolai

Once you understand all the sources of indoor air pollution, it's easy to see why indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality, particularly if a building isn't well ventilated. The following all emit pollutants:

• Household products like cleaners, beauty products (hair sprays, nail polish, perfumes, deodorants, hair dyes, soap), furniture polish, aerosols like air freshener, correction fluid, garden fertiliser, pesticides, insecticides.
• New furnishings like curtains treated with anti-stain agents, new carpet, chipboard and plywood furniture, foam-upholstered furniture.
• Dry-cleaned clothes.
• Gas stoves and appliances that are unflued, ie, without a chimney.
• Building materials including paints, chipboard, floor polish, fibreglass insulation.
• Exhaust fumes entering through windows near busy roads or an adjoining garage.
• Cigarette smoke.
• Allergens such as dust, pollen and mould spores.

Read about useful ways to clear the air inside your home and workplace.

Chapter 4.2 of the State of the Environment 2009 report explains more about indoor air quality, as does State of Knowledge report - Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality in Australia.

View the Report of the NSW Chief Health Officer on this topic.

Read about the contribution of the domestic sector in the Current and Projected Air Quality technical paper prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, now known as the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Read about the actions to tackle domestic emissions.

Chapter 4.2 of the State of the Environment 2009 report explains more about indoor air quality, as does State of Knowledge report - Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality in Australia.

View the Report of the NSW Chief Health Officer on this topic.

Read about the contribution of the domestic sector in the Current and Projected Air Quality technical paper prepared by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW, now known as the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Read about the actions to tackle domestic emissions.