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9 News
30-07-2025
- Health
- 9 News
The suburbs most at risk from Australia's 'silent killer'
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING New inflation data paves way for interest rate cut in two weeks Wood heaters have long provided winter comfort in Australian homes, but the impact of the smoke they emit has sparked health warnings and rows between neighbours. Exposure to the smoke is a known trigger for asthma, and over many years is linked with cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attack and stroke as well as respiratory diseases and even cancer. New research has revealed the impact from their smoke on the country's health. File image: Experts want wood heaters to be phased out and replaced with low-emission alternatives. (Nine) Researchers at the University of Tasmania's Centre for Safe Air claim that 729 people die prematurely every year from long-term exposure to wood heater smoke, while for millions even low-level exposure pose a health risk. The experts have also identified Australia's hotspots for wood-heater emissions and the deaths attributable to them, based on data from 2015. Residents in south-eastern states are the most at risk from the silent danger. The health burden is greatest in NSW, which has the country's highest wood heater emissions and the highest number of estimated premature deaths at 382 per year. This equates to 5.01 people dying prematurely each year for every 100,000 people. Wood heater smoke is a major health risk for Australia's 2.8 million asthma patients. (Nine) Victoria records the second-highest wood heater emissions and estimated premature deaths (163 per year). But this represents 2.7 deaths per 100,000 people, reflecting a comparatively lower health impact. Despite lower total emissions, South Australia and Tasmania face some of the most severe health impacts. The researchers estimate that 4.07 people die prematurely each year due to wood heater smoke for every 100,000 people in South Australia, or 69 premature deaths in total. Tasmania's premature death rate is close behind at 4.03 per 100,000 (21 premature deaths in total). In the ACT, wood heaters result in much lower total emissions, yet they are estimated to cause nine premature deaths annually, equating to 2.2 deaths per 100,000 people. Professor Fay Johnston, public health physician and environmental epidemiologist from the Centre for Safe Air, said the findings in the research were likely to be conservative. "The true health impact from wood heaters could well be higher ... it's important to recognise that some areas, like Tasmania, Canberra and Armidale in NSW, have local studies and real-world monitoring data showing even worse wood heater pollution levels and health outcomes than the national model suggests." Asthma Australia is concerned state and territory governments are failing the 2.8 million people with asthma by not phasing out wood burners and replacing them with low-emission alternatives, such as reverse-cycle air conditioners. "Fewer wood heaters would mean cleaner air, fewer asthma flare-ups, and less need for emergency care during winter," said spokesperson Chris Pearce. "Every year, we hear from families whose children or elderly relatives end up in hospital simply because someone nearby is using a wood heater. This is avoidable harm." Australia health asthma pollution Smoke environment CONTACT US Auto news: Why Australians are still driving around without insurance.
ABC News
10-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Launceston air pollution reaches unhealthy levels as council vows to act on delayed strategy
Tasmania's winter tourism slogan reads a little differently for Launceston residents who spend the season struggling with days of poor air quality. As visitors are urged to "come down for air", some with respiratory issues are leaving the region just to give their lungs a rest. Despite the state's clean, green reputation, the northern city has a longstanding issue with air quality, fuelled by its topography and widespread use of wood heaters. Data from Tasmania's Environment Protection Authority showed air pollution exceeded healthy levels in Launceston on Tuesday. Bill, who lived in Launceston for years and is now based in the West Tamar, said he developed a lung condition called bronchiectasis after moving from interstate. He suspects his proximity to poorly used wood heaters played a role and exacerbated his symptoms. "I couldn't believe I was so bad." While his condition has now improved, he said he did not want to risk spending any more cold months on the island. "It's really just unliveable," he said. "So now my solution is to leave the state." He believes Tasmanian councils should be doing far more to combat the issue. Launceston City Council vowed to develop a clean air strategy in 2022, but it is yet to eventuate. Public health physician and environmental epidemiologist Professor Fay Johnston, who leads the Centre for Safe Air in Hobart, said reducing Launceston's reliance on wood heaters would improve health outcomes and save lives. "It's estimated about 60 Tasmanians each year die sooner than you would have expected them to because of that air pollution load from wood heaters," Dr Johnston said. In 2001, Launceston City Council launched a wood heater buyback program. Dr Johnston said it reduced wood heater use by 30 per cent over the following decade, while death rates dropped by around 10 per cent over the same period. "Launceston can do better again if we reduce the number of wood heaters even further," she said. Some have speculated wood heater use may have increased with cost of living pressures in recent years, as they can be much cheaper to run for those with ready access to firewood. But the Launceston City Council does not collect data on wood heater use. The council is expected to review the wood heater buyback scheme as part of its clean air strategy, which has been delayed for three years. The council's chief executive Sam Johnson told ABC Radio the plan would finally be in place within the next year. "By the time we come into next winter … we can start to put some actions around this very, very important issue for Launceston," he said. Asthma Australia's Jess Tyler said air pollution could make it difficult for people with asthma to breathe. "[The matter] is so fine that it can get really deep into your airways," she said. "That can cause illness and exacerbate existing conditions." But any plan to limit wood heater use may receive opposition. On Wednesday, Labor Health spokesperson Ella Haddad told ABC radio wood heaters would eventually be phased out in Launceston. "Probably it's inevitable that in time as more homes get built, wood heaters are phased out further and further," Ms Haddad said. Liberal Felix Ellis then responded, posting "hands off our wood heaters" on Facebook. "Labor think their ban on wood heaters is 'inevitable'. We won't let that happen," Mr Ellis wrote. Labor Leader Dean Winter on Thursday ruled out any future wood heater ban. Dr Johnston said many people loved wood heaters, as they put out a lot of heat and could be cheap to run. But she said wood heater owners should ensure they used them properly to limit emissions and health impacts. "It's slightly easier with the modern heaters, but it still requires a lot of thought and skill to get it right," she said. West Tamar resident Bill agreed. "If it was your husband or wife or kid that had asthma and they were having an issue … wouldn't you want your neighbour or your council to clean it up," he said. "It's not even anything that would cost [a lot of] money on their part … just to run their heater properly, buy a decent wood."
