Recent press coverage has claimed that wood burning stoves “damage lungs in a similar way to smoking cigarettes.” The Stove Industry Association (SIA) believes it is important to set the record straight.
These headlines stem from a presentation made at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam.
However, the abstract of the research presented does not state what the headlines suggest. In fact, the study is primarily about mapping who uses solid fuel appliances and where – drawing on census data, property records and health surveys.
Its own preliminary analysis reports that solid fuel users actually had higher baseline lung function, and it concludes by calling for “quasi-experimental methods” to properly understand health impacts in high-income countries. It does not present a causal link between stove use and lung damage, nor does it equate stove emissions with cigarette smoke.
The comparison with smoking is misleading and risks confusing the public. Cigarettes deliver concentrated toxins directly into the lungs, many times a day. By contrast, modern Ecodesign-compliant stoves are sealed appliances with a chimney flue that vents emissions outdoors. When installed and operated correctly with dry, Ready to Burn certified wood, indoor emissions are minimal and cannot be equated with inhaling cigarette smoke.
It is also important to distinguish between appliance types; something the research takes no account of. Modern Ecodesign stoves, which are independently tested against strict efficiency and emissions standards, are shown to emit up to 90% less particulates compared to an open fire.
Since January 2022, all new stoves sold in the UK must comply with Ecodesign requirements, and in Smoke Control Areas, only exempt appliances can legally be used with wood. Consumers can also look for the clearSkies certification mark, which provides an independent “seal of approval” that a stove meets or even exceeds these standards.
Best practice matters too. Using only Woodsure Ready to Burn certified logs (with less than 20% moisture content), having stoves installed by a HETAS or OFTEC-registered installer, sweeping chimneys regularly, and following manufacturer guidance on refuelling are all proven steps to keep emissions low and efficiency high.
Wood fuel, when used in this way, remains an important renewable, affordable and resilient heating choice for many UK households – particularly as a complement to non-combustion systems such as heat pumps.
The SIA welcomes rigorous research into air quality and health. But it is vital that findings are represented accurately and that the public is given clear, practical information. Modern, correctly used stoves cannot be equated with cigarette smoke, and suggesting otherwise is misleading.
(Image courtesy of Adobe Stock. Article republished from Stove Industry Association – SIA).