I am sorry

When we bought a wood-burning stove, 25 years ago, we read up on the pollution caused by burning wood and we chose what we were told was a 'clean' stove. Its 'hot air wash' system recirculated the particles in the smoke so that they were burnt twice thus ensuring that polluting emissions were minimal. Allegedly. I can't quote the exact words for these claims because they are no longer on the stove-maker's website. But I've been horrified to read recently that a study in Sheffield showed that when they are lit, these sorts of 'wood burners triple the level of harmful particulates inside the home'. The study was small, but even so...

In the winter I used to welcome my children home from school to tea in front of what I thought was a cosy warm stove. We were part of a trend. 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimates that one in 12 UK homes is now using this sort of stove, thereby causing 38 per cent of the nation’s fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions.

The Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation Partnership says that indoor and outdoor pollution caused by wood-burning stoves causes breathing problems and an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer.

According to the Forum of International Respiratory Societies’ Environmental Committee outdoor fine particulate matter is the fifth leading risk factor for death in the world, accounting for 4.2 million deaths (7.6% of total global deaths) and more than 103 million disability-adjusted life years lost in 2015. The World Health Organization attributes an additional 3.8 million deaths (6.9% of total global deaths) to indoor air pollution. These are global averages - the percentage ranges from 10% in low- and middle-income countries to 0.2% in high-income countries. 

But even among us privileged people, more than a third of UK local authorities have areas where the level of PM2.5 exceeds WHO limits.

When I last lit the wood-burning stove last February I was looking forward to when I'd next be able to light it. That's not going to happen again, ever.