To the Editor: A recent MJA article by Kjellstrom et al1 correctly lists home heating using wood as a major cause of air pollution in Australia. It is therefore surprising to read in their optimistic view of "Circa 2100" that, whereas coal will be burnt in superefficient and clean-burning electric power stations, more wood will be burnt to heat houses.
Correspondence:
- 1. Kjellstrom TE, Neller A, Simpson RW. Air pollution and its health impacts: the changing panorama. Med J Aust 2002; 177: 604-608. <eMJA full text>
- 2. Clancy L, Goodman P, Sinclair H, Dockery DW. Effect of air-pollution control on death rates in Dublin, Ireland: an intervention study. Lancet 2002; 360: 1210-1214.
- 3. Gras J. Emissions from domestic solid fuel burning appliances. Canberra: Technical Report No. 5 to Environment Australia, March 2002.
- 4. Jacobson MZ. Strong radiative heating due to the mixing state of black carbon in atmospheric aerosols. Nature 2001; 409: 695-697.
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