Health and environmental groups have called on the Scottish Government to take stronger action on domestic wood burning, warning that emissions from stoves and open fires pose a growing threat to public health.
To coincide with today’s Clean Air Night (22nd January), the charity coalition Healthy Air Scotland said greater restrictions and public awareness are needed to address pollution caused by burning solid fuels in homes. The call comes as the group publishes a new manifesto ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May.
The coalition is urging the next Scottish Government to recognise the health risks associated with wood and coal burning, particularly where these fuels are not used as a primary source of heating. Among its proposals is a ban on the installation of new stoves in properties, with exemptions for homes that are off the electricity grid or located in remote and rural areas that experience frequent power outages.
Campaigners are also calling for investment in public information campaigns to improve understanding of the health impacts linked to domestic burning, the largest source of PM2.5 pollution in the UK, exceeding emissions from road traffic.
New polling shared by Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, a founding member of the coalition, suggests public concern is growing but awareness remains limited. The survey of Scottish adults found that 53% believe there is insufficient understanding of the health risks linked to wood-burning stoves. Nearly half of respondents supported phasing out solid fuel burning due to its harmful emissions, while just over one fifth disagreed.
The charity point out that pollution from wood burning affects not only those using the stoves but also people living nearby, as emissions contribute to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Healthy Air Scotland is asking political parties to adopt a set of measures in their election manifestos, including a national awareness campaign, restrictions on new stove installations, a stove scrappage scheme, and increased air quality monitoring around sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals and care homes.
Community groups say complaints linked to wood smoke are increasing, while local authorities currently have limited powers to intervene. Campaigners argue that without stronger regulation and clearer public messaging, the health impacts of domestic burning will continue to be underestimated.
Gareth Brown, Chair of Healthy Air Scotland and Policy and Public Affairs Officer at Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said: ‘Although people are concerned about their lung health and air pollution, less than half of people questioned in our survey were aware of the dangers of wood burning stoves, this is extremely worrying.
‘The idea of a cosy wood burner in our homes might sound appealing, but the reality is it could be putting you, your family and neighbours’ lung health at risk. Burning solid fuels like wood, generates air pollution both inside and outside homes, particularly PM2.5, which is one of the most harmful pollutants to human health.
‘Many people incorrectly think wood burning stoves are a better alternative to coal or gas and are unaware of the dangers it can cause to their health. Lungs can be irritated by the fumes from wood burners forcing some people with lung conditions to stay inside or risk worsening their symptoms.
‘That’s why we are urging the political parties in Scotland to prioritise educating the public about the health risks of air pollution, with a particular focus on the harmful effects of domestic woodburning.’
Professor Jill Belch, Chair of the Air Pollution Working Group at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: ‘Wood burning silently damages health, in the home and in the community. These tiny particles are invisible but are produced in significant quantities by home wood burning, even with so called ‘eco-stoves’. It is estimated that wood burning produces more PM2.5 – the most damaging air pollution particle – than power stations. It is under-recognised that wood burning produces 400 times more particles than a gas boiler.
‘Furthermore, a wood-burning stove can produce levels of PM2.5 similar to those generated by diesel exhausts – except with wood burning, the pollution is released directly into homes, and into communities. The Scottish Government should consider restricting wood burning in the home to those with no other reliable source of heat.’
Mandy Cairns, Communities Against Woodsmoke said: ‘We are hearing from people across the country whose health, and the health of their families, is being harmed by smoke from the rising installation of wood-burning stoves in their neighbourhood with many of these woodburning stoves being fitted primarily for aesthetic reasons.
‘Sadly, public awareness of how harmful wood burning remains low and local authorities have limited effective powers to prevent this intrusive pollution from affecting communities.’
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