Urgent warning over trendy wood burning stoves - as experts warn they are now the UK's biggest source of the most dangerous type of air pollution
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Trendy wood burning stoves are the UK's biggest source of the most dangerous type of air pollution called PM2.5, new research shows. A drop in particulate pollution from road transport and heavy industry such as steel has meant parts of the UK have now got the cleanest air for decades.
![[Trendy wood burning stoves are the UK's biggest source of the most dangerous type of air pollution called PM2.5, new research shows (stock image)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/05/15/92835887-14162135-image-a-12_1733414120232.jpg)
But despite the overall downward trend, the use of wood burning stoves is rising, the report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned. Particulate pollution is widely agreed to be the air pollutant with the biggest impact on human health, increasing the risk of respiratory and heart conditions, and increasing hospital admissions.
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. The IFS said in its report: '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.
'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'.
