Wood-Burning Restrictions and Indoor Air Pollution: The Case of Air Quality Warnings in Southern Chile

Despite the extensive evidence linking particulate matter exposure to adverse health effects, a significant portion of the global population, especially in low-income countries, continues to depend on highly polluting fuels like wood-burning for cooking and heating. This study evaluates the immediate effects of wood-burning restrictions, triggered by air quality warnings, on levels of fine and coarse particulate matter in the city of Los Angeles, Chile. Employing a regression discontinuity design, we derive plausible causal estimates indicating that wood-burning restrictions significantly reduce daily concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 during the most severe air quality warning. A battery of additional estimations supports these findings. However, our empirical analysis suggests that, while effective, wood-burning restrictions may not be sufficient to lower air pollution concentrations to levels deemed safe for health.