Experts issue urgent warning over ‘dangerous’ air pollution caused by popular household item

This popular appliance is in thousands of UK homes.

The new report by the Institute of Fiscal Studies concludes that wood burning stoves are the UK's biggest source of the most dangerous type of air pollution called PM2.5.

PM2. 5 are fine particles that have a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (more than 100 times thinner than a human hair) and remain suspended in the air for longer durations.

The health risk with PM2. 5 is that they can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the blood stream.

While a drop in particulate pollution from road transport and heavy industry has meant parts of the UK have now got the cleanest air for decades, the humble heat generator located in many people's living room is causing a significant risk to people's health and wellbeing.

The study finds that wood burning stoves are increasing the risk of respiratory and heart conditions, and increasing hospital admissions.

As well as this, children growing up exposed to particulate pollution are more likely to have reduced lung function and can develop asthma as the tiny particles penetrate the lungs and enter into the bloodstream.

NEW: Air pollution in England has halved since 2003 after falling substantially during the pandemic, but inequalities in exposure remain.@LucieGadenne, @LeroutierM, @rodrigo_toneto and Bobbie Upton’s new report examines how air pollution has changed in England over 20 years: pic.twitter.com/C99o4hEZO4

— Institute for Fiscal Studies (@TheIFS) December 6, 2024

The report states: "The three largest sources of primary PM2.5 in the UK are domestic burning of wood and other fuels (29 per cent of total PM2.5 emissions in 2022), road transport (17.9 per cent of total PM2.5 emissions in 2022), and industrial processes and product use (16.5 per cent of total PM2.5 emissions in 2022) such as construction and steel manufacturing.

It continues: "The only source of PM2.5 emissions that has increased over the period is domestic combustion. Three-quarters of the domestic combustion emissions of PM2.5 came from woodburning in 2022.

"Only stoves officially given the 'Ecodesign' mark are allowed for sale in the UK and any wood for sale must be certified 'Ready to burn'."

Overall, the report said that in most parts of the UK, levels of PM2.5 pollution had fallen to below the government's 2040 target, although not below the more stringent limit set out by the World Health Organisation.

Between 2003 and 2023, average levels of PM2.5 in England fell by 54 per cent, with levels remaining relatively low since the pandemic.

The report also found that lower-income areas have persistently higher levels of air pollution than richer areas.

In 2023, individuals in the top 20 per cent most deprived areas experienced 8 per cent higher average PM2.5 concentrations than those in the bottom 20 per cent.