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Open fires and wood-burning stoves can cause breathing problems such as asthma and contribute to other health conditions.
Simple steps to reduce environmental and health impacts
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has produced a leaflet that provides simple steps to reduce environmental and health impacts of open fires.
The biggest health threat from smoke is fine particles, known as particulate matter. This can settle in the airways and deep in the lungs and cause health problems.
Effects of particle air pollution have been widely studied and highlight premature death and worsening of heart and lung disease, often resulting in increased admissions to hospital.
Reduce the harmful health effects caused by smoke
Open fires and wood-burning stoves have risen in popularity over recent years, making up 38% of the UK’s primary emissions of fine particulate matter.
The leaflet gives valuable information to users about what they can burn, maintaining their stove and chimney, and ensuring the stove has been approved for use in smoke control areas by DEFRA or is an Ecodesign Ready stove.
Following the advice on using an open fires or stoves can help reduce the harmful health effects caused by inhaling smoke.
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