Wood pellets are usually made from wood waste such as shavings from planing and sawing, and also from bark.The comminuted wood flour is compressed under high pressure.

When storing pellets, two largely underrated hazards arise:

a) Formation of a hazardous explosive atmosphere

b) Formation of significant quantities of carbon monoxide (CO) that pose a threat to life

This occurs regardless of the size of the facility. Accordingly, these hazards exist even in small facilities (e.g. for storing pellets in cellars of family homes).

This paper does not address the carcinogenic effect of wood dusts.