A ban on heating in fireplaces would improve air quality and people's health, shows the "Night of Clean Air" campaign
A ban on heating in fireplaces and other local solid fuel stoves could improve health and prevent many health complications, scientific studies show. However, a complete ban is not currently on the table, so experts are highlighting their negatives at least through an informational campaign.
Not only pleasant warmth and a soothing view can be brought by wood burning in the fireplace. The "Clean Air Night" campaign, which aims to highlight the negative consequences of heating with wood in fireplaces, once again took place in the United Kingdom (specifically in Hertfordshire) this year. Its goal is to highlight the harmful effects of wood burning in both households and outdoors.
In many households, wood burning is still perceived primarily as an ecological and economical way of heating. However, studies show that wood smoke contains PM 2.5 fine particles, which penetrate the bloodstream when inhaled and may cause heart and lung diseases, diabetes, or dementia. Additionally, burning wood produces more carbon dioxide emissions than burning oil or gas for the same amount of heat generated, which is counterproductive in the efforts of many countries to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years.
We are addressing the problem of air pollution in households and outdoors, where wood heating devices are the source, even in our country. According to data from the Ministry of the Environment, local solid fuel burners are one of the largest sources of solid particle emissions (namely the aforementioned PM 2.5) and also substances like benzo(a)pyrene. This effect is especially visible in the winter months in smaller towns and villages, where a large number of households still use these sources.
Inefficient wood burning in local fireplaces causes health problems for people who breathe the polluted air both outdoors and indoors. Solid fuel burners are, according to doctors, especially risky for children, who breathe the polluted air in households from an early age. Some organizations and politicians have previously ag