Researchers have raised concerns about the potential damage caused by indoor wood burning, likening it to the harmful effects of cigarette smoke. The rise in popularity of domestic wood burning stoves has been identified as a significant contributor to a type of air pollution called PM2.5 in the UK, which consists of fine particles that can deeply penetrate the lungs.
A study conducted by University College London analyzed health data from 11,000 participants in the English Longitudinal Study Of Ageing, along with property level energy performance certificates (EPCs) and UK census data. The researchers discovered that wood burning appliances are more commonly used by white individuals residing in affluent urban areas, even within Smoke Control Zones, as presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam.
Over an eight-year period, lung function measurements were taken three times among a subgroup of over 1,700 individuals. The researchers utilized a test to evaluate the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), which indicates how much air a person can exhale within a second after a deep inhalation.
The study revealed that individuals using indoor wood burners experienced greater declines in FEV1. For instance, among participants aged 70 to 79 in the study, those using solid fuels like indoor wood burners showed an average decrease of 0.12 liters in FEV1, compared to 0.07 liters in those not exposed.
The research team observed a rise in self-reported wood fuel usage from 10% in 2004/05 to 18% in 2021/22. Dr. Horsfall stated at the Congress: “Wood burning at home releases harmful air pollutants both indoors and outdoors, including carcinogens. Despite this, wood burning-related air pollution in the UK has doubled since 2009 due to increased adoption of wood stoves.
“However, the connection between wood burning and health outcomes in high-income nations remains unclear, and identifying residential areas with high emissions is challenging using current air quality monitoring systems.”
She added: “Although individuals using solid fuel reported lower rates of smoking and lung disease, potentially masking the true effects of solid fuel exposure, our longitudinal lung function assessments over eight years indicated a faster decline in lung function among solid fuel users compared to non-users, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and housing variables.
“This implies a significant association between solid fuel use and respiratory deterioration, despite the initially healthier status of the exposed group. Our study suggests that elevated particulate matter levels from stoves lead to respiratory tissue damage and inflammation akin to cigarette smoke.”
The researchers plan to investigate whether individuals residing in or near areas with a high concentration of wood stoves, such as affluent regions in London, exhibit higher rates of respiratory problems, including inhaler prescriptions and hospital visits for lung conditions.
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