Air pollution from domestic wood burning contributes to nearly 2,500 deaths each year in the U.K, according to a new analysis.
The new research, commissioned by Global Action Plan and Hertfordshire County Council, also claims air pollution from burning wood in the home contributes an average of 3,741 new cases of diabetes and 1,493 new cases of asthma in the U.K. a year.
It adds air pollution is the biggest environmental risk to public health in Britain, with outdoor and indoor air pollution both shown to be drivers of serious and potentially fatal disease in children and adults.
The study also claims stopping non-essential burning across the country would contribute to a range of health benefits that could save the National Health Service over £54 million in healthcare costs.
According to study, it would also prevent £164 million wider productivity costs to the British economy every year too.
It also says 92% of people burning wood in the U.K. already have another way to heat their home, but the use of wood-burning stoves has been rising in recent years, particularly in urban areas outside major cities.
And the report concludes claims if all secondary burning of wood, including stoves, ceased to occur across the U.K, there would be a decrease in PM2.5 particle emissions of 7,985 tonnes/year, which is equivalent to 12.3% of total annual national PM2.5 emissions.
It also quotes a recent study by the Royal College of Physicians, which estimates around 30,000 deaths a year in the UK can be attributed to air pollution.
Larissa Lockwood, director of policy and campaigns at Global Action Plan said an open fire or wood burning stove is the most polluting way to heat a home, in a statement.
Lockwood added air pollution from wood burning stoves is cutting lives short, putting people in hospital, and contributing to serious health conditions for people across the country.
“The U.K. government must take action to ensure everyone can access cleaner, greener and more affordable heating, as well as strengthening powers to allow local authorities to tackle air pollution and providing clear guidance for the public on the health harms of burning wood and other solid fuels in our homes,” she added.
Dr. Abi Whitehouse, a clinical academic respiratory children’s doctor, said many families turn to wood-burning stoves as a heating choice as the weather gets colder, in a statement.
But Dr. Whitehouse added this should not be the default choice, as the smoke and fine particles released can worsen asthma symptoms, trigger attacks, and contribute to long-term respiratory issues.
“For children with asthma, even small increases in indoor air pollution can mean more frequent flare-ups, hospital admissions, and time away from school,” she said.
The report was published as the campaigning group Mums for Lungs, published figures which show that despite 15,195 complaints from residents across England in the last three years about harmful wood burning, enforcement remains virtually non-existent.
The figures, obtained by Freedom of Information requests, also reveal local authorities in England issued only 24 fines issued in the same time period.
Jemima Hartshorn, founder of Mums for Lungs, said the U.K. government claims to have world-leading laws on air pollution, but added “they are meaningless if they are not enforced”
Hartshorn said it is a public health failure hiding in plain sight and “people are being left to choke in silence”.
But Calvin May, head of technical services at Cleaner Safer Group, said the reality of these numbers could be more nuanced and should not be taken at face value, in a statement.
May added just because a complaint is submitted it does not necessarily mean a homeowner has broken the law or will be fined.