Wood-burning stoves: A growing health and environmental hazard
text_fields
Cork (Ireland): While the allure of a cozy fire on a cold winter's day is undeniable, burning wood or coal for home heating poses serious risks to health and the environment. In Europe, nearly 61,000 premature deaths each year are linked to air pollution caused by wood-burning stoves.
Although wood-burning stoves are often considered safer, cleaner, and more attractive than open fires, they are not a healthier or greener alternative to coal or gas heating. From 2021 to 2022, sales of wood-burning stoves in the UK surged by 40%, but experts caution that this growing trend may be exacerbating health risks.
Wood burning produces a complex mix of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and harmful gases that can penetrate deep into the lungs. The specific chemical composition varies depending on the stove and fuel used, but it can include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene – both of which are cancer-causing.
Exposure to wood smoke has serious consequences for the heart, blood vessels, and respiratory system, with PM2.5 being the primary health threat. Wood smoke is linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and exacerbated conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Long-term exposure can also lead to premature death.
This pollution not only affects outdoor air quality but also finds its way indoors, worsening the air within homes. The pollution is particularly harmful to vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions. Chronic exposure to wood smoke has also been linked to systemic inflammation, making the lungs more susceptible to infections, including flu and COVID-19.
In the UK and Ireland, solid fuel heating is the leading cause of outdoor PM2.5 pollution during winter. While wood burning dominates in the UK, peat burning contributes significantly to PM2.5 levels in Ireland. In some rural areas, air pollution from wood burning can reach levels comparable to highly polluted regions like northern India.
Surveys in Ireland and the UK show that people often use solid fuel stoves for the aesthetic appeal and the "homely feel" they provide, with financial savings or necessity being secondary reasons. Ironically, the health risks associated with wood-burning stoves disproportionately affect poorer communities, even though wealthier individuals tend to use them more in urban settings like London.
Experts suggest that educational campaigns about the environmental and health impacts of wood-burning stoves could help reduce their use. Initiatives like the Clean Air Night in the UK and Ireland aim to raise awareness and potentially alter long-term heating habits. Switching to more efficient and renewable heating options, such as heat pumps, can reduce emissions and improve health, with lower costs for most people – except those who gather their own wood.
Communities can also benefit from access to real-time air quality data, like Cork’s publicly available PM2.5 sensor map, which helps residents understand the impact of their heating choices. Checking air quality before using a wood burner could help minimize pollution exposure.
For those who rely on solid fuel stoves, several measures can reduce emissions:
- Use low-emission stoves that meet environmental standards.
- Ensure fires are small and hot with adequate air supply, avoiding smoldering fires.
- Only burn compliant materials, avoiding garbage, plastics, or treated wood.
- Have stoves professionally installed and maintained annually.
- Maintain good ventilation by opening windows, unblocking vents, and using exhaust fans.
Those who use wood stoves as a secondary heat source may consider reducing or stopping their use altogether, which would significantly improve air quality.
With PTI inputs