https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/wood_smoke

NTP Review of Wood Smoke

wood burning fireplace

Substance Overview

Status: Cancer: Cancer hazard evaluation for potential listing in the Report on Carcinogens (RoC)

Primary Uses or Exposures

  • Wood smoke is a complex mixture consisting of gases, chemicals (such as polyaromatic amines) and fine particles.
  • Over 2 million U.S. household use wood as their primary heating fuel; this is especially a problem for people living in the northwest and parts of the northeast.
  • Food service workers are exposed from wood smoke for cooking purposes.
  • An emerging concern for exposure to wood smoke is from increasing the numbers of wildfires.
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Documents

Documents for Selected Wood Smoke
DateDocument
Sep 18, 2026Report on Carcinogens Wildfire Smoke Human Cancer Hazard Evaluation Protocol Part 3: Assessing the Evidence from Wildfire Smoke and Human Cancer
Dec 19, 2024Report on Carcinogen Wood Smoke and Wildfire Cancer Hazard Evaluation Protocol Part 2: Animal Cancer and Mechanistic Studies, Sufficient Similarity Assessment, and Evidence Integration
Apr 5, 2022

Report on Carcinogen Wood Smoke and Wildfire Cancer Hazard Evaluation Protocol Part 1: Human Cancer Studies on Exposure to Wood Smoke

Sep 20, 2013Federal Register notice requesting public comment on nominated substances
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