❓ Hon Jim Scott asks about the legality and health impacts of burning painted wood in domestic fires. The Health Act exempts smoke from private houses, but amendments are planned to address nuisance smoke; no specific studies on painted wood smoke impacts exist.
AnsweredQoN 1061Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Are people permitted to burn painted wood in domestic fires?
(2) What action can people take under the
Health Act
over neighbours who burn painted wood in domestic fires?
(3) What action can people take under the
Health Act
who suffer from the effects of smoke from domestic fires?
(4) What are the known health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires?
(5) Has the Health Department conducted any studies into the impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires?
(2) What action can people take under the
Health Act
over neighbours who burn painted wood in domestic fires?
(3) What action can people take under the
Health Act
who suffer from the effects of smoke from domestic fires?
(4) What are the known health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires?
(5) Has the Health Department conducted any studies into the impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 September 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
23 days
(2) &(3) The Health Act currently exempts smoke from chimneys of private houses from the nuisance provision of the Act. However, individuals may complain to Local Governments who can attempt to resolve the problem. The Department of Health is preparing amendments to the Health Act which will delete this exemption and enable action to be taken under the nuisance provision of the Act where the smoke is in such quantity or of such a nature as to be offensive to the public, or injurious or dangerous to health. (4) The Department of Health does not have access to any verified scientific study regarding the health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires. An analysis of such impacts would be extremely difficult due to many variations in the smoke such as the chemicals in the paint, separation of paint related chemicals from other chemicals present in wood smoke, and the density and concentration of the chemicals in the smoke. (5) No.
The Health Act currently exempts smoke from chimneys of private houses from the nuisance provision of the Act. However, individuals may complain to Local Governments who can attempt to resolve the problem. The Department of Health is preparing amendments to the Health Act which will delete this exemption and enable action to be taken under the nuisance provision of the Act where the smoke is in such quantity or of such a nature as to be offensive to the public, or injurious or dangerous to health. (4) The Department of Health does not have access to any verified scientific study regarding the health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires. An analysis of such impacts would be extremely difficult due to many variations in the smoke such as the chemicals in the paint, separation of paint related chemicals from other chemicals present in wood smoke, and the density and concentration of the chemicals in the smoke. (5) No.
(4) The Department of Health does not have access to any verified scientific study regarding the health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires. An analysis of such impacts would be extremely difficult due to many variations in the smoke such as the chemicals in the paint, separation of paint related chemicals from other chemicals present in wood smoke, and the density and concentration of the chemicals in the smoke. (5) No.
(5) No.
The Health Act currently exempts smoke from chimneys of private houses from the nuisance provision of the Act. However, individuals may complain to Local Governments who can attempt to resolve the problem. The Department of Health is preparing amendments to the Health Act which will delete this exemption and enable action to be taken under the nuisance provision of the Act where the smoke is in such quantity or of such a nature as to be offensive to the public, or injurious or dangerous to health. (4) The Department of Health does not have access to any verified scientific study regarding the health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires. An analysis of such impacts would be extremely difficult due to many variations in the smoke such as the chemicals in the paint, separation of paint related chemicals from other chemicals present in wood smoke, and the density and concentration of the chemicals in the smoke. (5) No.
(4) The Department of Health does not have access to any verified scientific study regarding the health impacts from smoke produced during the burning of painted wood in domestic fires. An analysis of such impacts would be extremely difficult due to many variations in the smoke such as the chemicals in the paint, separation of paint related chemicals from other chemicals present in wood smoke, and the density and concentration of the chemicals in the smoke. (5) No.
(5) No.
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