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Wood burners damage lung function but the impact is hidden because owners are wealthier and healthier than the average person, scientists have warned.
Researchers from University College London (UCL) examined health and fuel-use data from 11,000 people taking part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
Over an eight-year period, they found that lung function decreased by 120ml for those with wood-burning stoves, compared with 70ml in people with other forms of heating.
The study found that wood-burning appliances were more likely to be used by white people in affluent neighbourhoods and in cities, which made the damage difficult to spot because households had a baseline of better health.
Dr Laura Horsfall, principal research fellow from the Institute of Health Informatics at UCL, said: “We found that people using solid fuel had lower rates of smoking and lung disease, which can mask the true effects of solid fuel exposure.
“However, using repeated lung function measurements over an eight-year period, we found that lung function declined faster among solid fuel users compared to non-users, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and housing factors.
“This suggests an important link between solid fuel use and respiratory decline, despite the healthier baseline of the exposed group.”
She added: “Our study suggests that high levels of particulate matter from stoves damage respiratory tissues, causing inflammation in a similar way to cigarette smoke.”
Although the effect is not as much as smoking, which diminishes lung function by 40ml to 60ml a year, experts say it could still be having an impact on health.
Lung function in the study was measured by FEV1 – the amount of air a person can forcefully exhale in the first second of a breath.
Lower FEV1 values are associated with increased risk of lung disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Latest figures show that the proportion of houses with wood burners in Britain rose to 10.3 per cent last year, from 9.4 per cent in 2022.
In Britain, the proportion of harmful fine-particulate air pollution caused by domestic solid fuel is now 20 per cent of total emissions, compared with road vehicles, which are responsible for 4 per cent.
Annual emissions, specifically from domestic wood burning, almost doubled from 3,200 tons in 2009 to 6,000 tons in 2023.
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Commenting on the new study, Sarah Sleet, chief executive of the charity Asthma and Lung UK, said: “The findings of this research aren’t surprising, but do help to add to the body of evidence of the impact of air pollution from wood burners on our lungs.
“It’s concerning that the number of homes with a wood burner is increasing, and primarily the reason for having a wood burner is the aesthetic of it.
“Hopefully this research causes people to question if the payoff of having a wood burner is worth it, for the detrimental impact it could have on you and your family’s lungs.
“It would be good to see increased awareness on the impact of wood burners, with clearer information and guidance from the Government on the health impact, as well as increased regulation around domestic wood-burning.”
Dr Horsfall and her team now plan to investigate whether people living in or near areas with a high concentration of wood stoves, such as the wealthier parts of London, also show increased rates of respiratory issues, such as inhaler prescriptions and hospital visits for lung conditions.
The research was presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam.
Commenting on the findings, Prof Ane Johannessen, head of the European Respiratory Society’s expert group on epidemiology and environment, said: “This study underscores the need for clearer public health guidance and regulation around domestic wood burning.
“People should be aware that these stoves could be harming them and their families, and doctors should be asking their patients about whether they are using stoves at home.”
