Scots have been warned spending the festive season around an open fire could be damaging for their health. Health charity Asthma and Lung UK Scotland is calling on Holyrood ministers to raise awareness of the dangerous pollutants that come from burning wood in our homes.
Speaking to the Record, charity chief Joseph Carter raised specific attention to particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution which comes from wood burning. These are particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres and can penetrate the heart, lungs and bloodstream.
These toxins in the air can be especially harmful for the elderly, the very young and people with pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma. It has been linked to the increased likelihood of developing lung and heart conditions, cancer, strokes, mental health issues and dementia.
Asthma and Lung UK Scotland is urging the Scottish Government to introduce a suite of new measures to safeguard health, including a ban on the most polluting fuels like house coal and wet wood and a nationwide scrappage scheme for the most inefficient wood burners. Carter told the Record: “Because it’s winter, more people are burning wood to stay warm, and people are gathering around open fires and more modern stoves.
“There’s a worry and concern that people genuinely believe these stoves are a green source of fuel. Some people think of it as festive and it has a bit of a nostalgia around it, the idea of gathering around an open fire.
“Even certain Christmas songs refer to roasting chestnuts on an open fire – there’s a sort of Christmas feel about it. But the reason we are keen to talk about this is because of the dangers this brings.
“Domestic burning in any guise is really dangerous when people live with lung conditions. It could be a cause of people having asthma attacks or COPD exacerbations. It’s the biggest source of PM2.5 air pollution which, combined with other sources of pollution, leads to about 2700 people dying early every year across Scotland.
“So it’s a really serious issue and I don’t think it gets the attention it deserves.” The charity is calling for a nationwide awareness campaign led by the government to draw people’s attention to the risks of wood burning.
It also wants to see pollution monitoring stations set up in every community in Scotland to identify smoky air hotspots. Data from this could then be used to send health alerts to people living with lung conditions, the charity said.
It comes as SNP ministers previously ditched plans to ban wood burning stoves from new-build homes after an outcry from rural communities – where homes are more likely to be disconnected from gas mains. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have already made significant achievements in reducing air pollution.
“In 2023, for the second year running, we met all air quality objectives, reflecting a long-term downward trend in air pollution, with PM2.5 emissions decreasing by 58 per cent since 2005. We are currently reviewing our air quality objectives in light of updated World Health Organisation guidelines.
“A move towards cleaner fuels must take place as part of a just transition, whilst ensuring that no one is left in fuel poverty. We are also carefully considering the potential impact on costs in rural and islands communities.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletterhere.