Heating with wood is inexpensive and, if done correctly, it can be eco-friendly. Some 15 million fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are installed in homes across Germany, but the soot produced is harmful to health.
The problem is that when such pieces of wood that have been treated with wood preservatives or paint are burned, they emit poisonous dioxins. The chemicals can leak to the ground, penetrate the soil and enter the food chain.
Burning only dry wood is also essential for clean combustion, as damp wood reduces the burning temperature and facilitates the release of toxic emissions.
Chimneys release over 30,000 tons of particulate matter each year in Germany - about five percent of total particulate matter emissions.
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