How can ethanol fireplaces be dangerous?
One of the consequences of climate change is unusually harsh winters, as people in the northern and Midwestern U.S. learned during the polar vortex front in the winter of 2014. Complicating the need to keep warm is skyrocketing energy prices. This has driven consumers to find cheaper ways of heating their homes, including standalone fireplaces that do not have chimneys. Such appliances burn either wood or chemical compounds, such as ethanol.
As these fireplaces become more popular, scientists are growing concerned about the possible health and safety hazards they pose. One team of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research WKI in Braunschweig, Germany, studied a series of both ethanol and wood-burning fireplaces. They concluded that the former was associated with the release of combustible particles and unhealthy pollutants into the room.
"These stoves do not feature any guided exhaust system whatsoever, so all combustible products are released directly into the environment. Those are, for example, very fine combustion particles and gaseous compounds like formaldehyde and benzene. Hardly any data exists yet about the effect of ethanol stoves on air quality of interior spaces." chemist Michael Wensing of WKI said in a statement.
Energy rate hikes drive popularity of appliances
One reason why standalone fireplaces are appearing in more homes is that they provide a heating source that is cheaper than central heating. In December 2013, Fine Design Living, a boutique and design firm based in the Greater Toronto Area, pointed out that Ontario residents would be seeing their energy rates rise by about 33 percent during the next two to three years. Similar to manufacturers of ethanol fireplaces, the firm asserted that these appliances are environmentally friendly because ethanol burns off as carbon dioxide and water.
The German researchers pointed out that, while ethanol burning should only create carbon dioxide and water as by-products, the reality is different.
"As a rule, ethanol does not burn out completely. Rather, the incineration process results in CO2 – along with poisonous gases (like carbon monoxide, a respiratory toxin), organic compounds (like benzene, a carcinogen), and irritant gases (like nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde), as well as ultrafine combustion particles," Wensing added.
To get a better idea of how ethanol fireplaces affect the air quality of the surrounding space, Wensing and his colleagues conducted an experiment in which they monitored four stoves that burned eight different types of liquid and gelatinous fuels. This all took place within the confines of a test chamber that was 48 cubic meters. The researchers observed that, in the majority of cases, the combustion of the liquid and gelatinous fuels resulted in levels of air pollutants that far exceeded acceptable concentrations. These chemical compounds included nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide and ultrafine combustion particles that are capable of penetrating the lungs.
By contrast, wood-burning fireplaces had a minimal impact on the surrounding air quality as long as the stove doors remained properly shut. These appliances were most likely to affect the air during the moments when stove doors were opened, so that the firewood can be replenished and ignited. However, atmospheric levels of benzene can rise significantly when paraffin is used in the ignition process. Alternatively, consumers can use paper to start fires.
Safety is important
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidental carbon monoxide poisoning sends more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms, and kills more than 400 people in the country, every year. Safety practices with heating units and fuels will help drive down these figures. Specifically, consumers must make sure qualified technicians inspect their heating devices annually. Additionally, households should only purchase gas equipment that carries the seal of approval from a national testing agency.
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About the Author
Susan Massie, Sales & Marketing Director, Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals Email: sue@greyhoundchrom.com
Susan Massie is the Sales & Marketing Director for Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals, affectionately known as 'Greyhound' in our scientific community. Greyhound was founded by Susan's husband Paul Massie more than 40 years ago, Susan hasn't been in the business for all of that time but has been involved with Greyhound for over 17 years. Greyhound continues to grow, expanding into new markets and taking on the challenges of our ever changing environment. It's heartwarming to witness the world waking up to the fact that we are damaging our planet on a daily basis. Every action we take has a direct effect on our planet and the world we leave behind for future generations. Susan is passionate about climate change and is happy to work in an industry that can have a direct effect on reducing the impact of our actions on the environment. All of the team at Greyhound take our responsibilities very seriously, the products that we supply are used by the world's leading scientists and chemists as they endeavour to monitor and repair the environment. All is not lost, if we all take responsibility for our actions, from reducing our waste and reusing or recycling our material collateral we can make a difference. The internet is full of useful advice and guidance, Susan is proud to contribute to that wealth of knowledge whenever she can.
Greyhound prides itself on personal service which provides prompt, efficient, cost-effective, safe delivery of all products. Greyhound provides technical advice and distribution of Certified Reference Standards and Materials, Laboratory Consumables, Solvents and Reagents across all scientific disciplines. Greyhound Chromatography offers over 1 Million products from its UK warehouse. The team at Greyhound are proud to support the work of the world's leading scientists and chemists as they challenge the abuse of our planet and try to make a difference to the world we leave behind for our ancestors.
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