HIGHLIGHTING DANGER OF WOODBURNERS

[GlassHouseBlue]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) -
essentially tiny particles of soot - is one
of the most dangerous air pollutants.
Breathing it in is linked to lung cancer,
heart damage, strokes, impaired cognition
and mental health problems, and can
exacerbate conditions such as asthma,
COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. Children
and elderly people are most vulnerable

I don't know anyone who burns bits of old wardrobe or MDF etc as doing so clogs up the flue and results in extra cleaning expense or even a fire in the flue. Burning wet wood gives little heat and agin, ruins the flue.

My parents live in an old thatched cottage and have two wood burners. No central heating, no gas in their village. They looked into a heat pump a while ago but couldn’t make the cost work as they’re late 70s and also they are such an eyesore. Plus they just don’t work in old houses, the house has to be well insulated and you can’t well insulate a 500 year old house, they have to breathe otherwise you get mould.

If they ever come to sell that house (or more likely me as they have said they are never leaving!) I will never be able to reach any kind of environmental standard!

Although I do like a wood burner, and my parents’ one is modern and well filtered, within two days of staying there my son was wheezing and he only normally gets that after a bad cold. It did change my views on wood burners I have to say.

Have you a source of academic research to back that assertion up?