Pollution from wood burning

[HelenUnderwood]

I am really concerned about the pollution from wood burning, even the latest eco stoves which still produce really small particles that get even deeper into lungs.

We are surrounded by them and some neighbours have taken delivery of treated wood (illegal to burn).

There's some really strong evidence confirming the health impact of burning wood, woodsmokepollution.org Doctors and scientists against wood burning. Gary Fuller The Rising Global Threat of Air Pollution and yet it is a growing problem exacerbated by fuel prices (mind you, wood doesn't come about quickly, it takes years to grow and hours to burn).

What can be done? Burning wood is worse than diesel fumes. Help!!!!

I am so sorry.

A few years back I purchased a face mask specifically for air pollution. I have to wear it when there's burning going on otherwise it really gets my chest. It doesn't stop it all but helps.

I’d like to see that too. I have two wood stoves and only burn properly seasoned or kiln dried wood. No visible smoke hardly any smell. I suspect people will be burning everything this year though. Old pallets/ off cuts/ cardboard/treated wood/ wet wood if you’re skint and it’s the only way of heating your home what do you expect people to do?

No. I take your point though but:

Certified Wood Stoves and Higher Levels of Carcinogenic Toxins
In addition, the advocacy group Families for Clean Air, among others, have pointed out troubling evidence that newer, certified stoves do not reduce levels of toxic chemical pollutants such as dioxins and furans. In fact, they emit more. These are some of the most dangerous chemicals to which one can be exposed, and some of the most persistent in our environment.

It's just not good for us.

That would be good

Surely the smogs of the fifties was due to coal?

Anyway, I'm with you OP, my neighbour has put their wood burning stove on and I had to come indoors.
I like the smell of fires but some folk will pile any old shit in their wood burners.

Think it'll get worse in the months to come.

Please see list of chemicals emitted from burning wood.

It will.

The government must do something so people aren't forced to burn wood thereby adding to pollution.

@smilingthroughgrittedteeth it doesn't make sense to open up the chimneys if you are using them for open fires. It's like having an open window but worse because a chimney is designed to draw (suck) out air (heat). When you're not using it, there will be cold air coming in all the time. I've had a house with one and while it looks lovely, it doesn't really make economical sense.

There needs to be mors education around the health risks

It's adding to that ocean though and worse than we think

So agree

Thank you

I understand why people use them. But, I hate the smell, and the fact you have to close your windows, bring in the laundry. I have Asthma and Bronchiectasis, my husband has copd, and the smoke does make us cough.
There we are, I don't want people to be cold when they can use them. anyway as far as global warming etc is concerned we are just a drop in the ocean. China doesn't give a toss. It's all too late.
One thing though, the chap down our street, rents, and the Landlord is a "Tree Surgeon" He sells him fresh wood and he shouldn't be burning that!

The chimney is already open we just havent used the fire in all the time weve been here

The issue with wood burning in that article is opening the stove to refuel and then the room floods with particles. If you only open once or not at all, the risk is reduced.

This is different to the outdoor air pollution caused by wood burning.

so if you have a stove, and don’t keep opening it, then you’re probably ok and healthier than if you can’t afford to heat your home otherwise in the depth of winter.

The problem with wood burners is that they're oh so romantic and people have been conned into believing that it's sustainable.

Chopping trees down isn't sustainable. If we all did it...???

But not your neighbours...

Exactly

We can't grow them quick enough

It's unsustainable and not carbon neutral

And long may that continue

I will be using mine a lot this winter I’m afraid.
But it’s useful to know that opening to refuel reduces the risk.

Gas hobs give off pollutants and particles.
Nobody ever mentions those .

If anyone offers to pay my gas bill, so I don’t have to use my multi fuel stove - just pm me, I’ll happily take up the offer, but will want £3k as an upfront payment incase you default….
Being cold isn’t healthy or fun or virtuoso in any shape. I have asthma - my stove doesn’t set it off. Being cold and breathing cold, damp air does, as does pleurisy, pneumonia and hypothermia.

What do you expect people to do? It’s a way of keeping warm, I’m hardly going to live in a cold house and not light the wood burner, we burn seasoned wood only. We were using it less but unfortunately now is not a good time to get preachy about the use of them.

Hopefully they will ban them because so many people are using them. It’s mostly the middle classes who have them and it’s unfair to return the rest of us to the days of smog so that a privileged few can have marginally cheaper heating.

Thank you

You are spot on

Can you quote the evidence?