Using wood-burning stoves at home has been linked to a faster decline in lung function, according to new findings presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam. The study, led by Dr Laura Horsfall from the UCL Institute of Health Informatics, found that people in England who used solid fuels such as wood or coal for heating experienced steeper reductions in lung capacity over eight years compared with non-users.
The research team used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to assess whether solid fuel use was associated with long-term respiratory decline. They measured lung function through forced expiratory volume in one second, or FEV₁, which records how much air can be exhaled forcefully in the first second of a breath. Lower FEV₁ values are linked to higher risks of conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, making it a key marker for respiratory health.
Dr Horsfall explained that while households with wood stoves tend to be healthier at the outset, with lower smoking rates and fewer existing lung diseases, longitudinal analysis revealed a clear trend. “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 said.
The study adds to concerns about the rising popularity of wood stoves in the UK and Europe. Use of solid fuel for heating has increased in recent years, driven by the promotion of wood as a renewable energy source and the impact of high fossil fuel prices. In the UK, domestic solid fuel now contributes about 20% of harmful PM2.5 emissions, compared with 4% from road traffic. Government figures show that annual emissions from domestic wood burning nearly doubled from 3,200 tonnes in 2009 to 6,000 tonnes in 2023.
Dr Horsfall highlighted the danger of particulate emissions. “We know wood burning at home emits harmful air pollution both indoors and outdoors including known carcinogens. Despite this, air pollution from this source has approximately doubled in the UK since 2009 as more people install and use wood stoves. However, the link with health outcomes in high-income countries is not well understood and residential areas with high emissions are hard to identify using existing air quality monitoring networks,” she told the Congress. She added that particulate matter from wood stoves appears to damage respiratory tissues in a way similar to cigarette smoke, causing inflammation and increasing long-term risks.
The UCL team now intends to study whether living in areas with high densities of wood stoves, such as affluent parts of London, is associated with greater use of inhalers or higher hospital admissions for lung problems.
Independent experts have echoed these warnings. Professor Ane Johannessen, head of the European Respiratory Society’s expert group on epidemiology and environment at the University of Bergen, said that the results highlight a growing public health concern. “In Europe, we are seeing a growing trend for using wood-burning stoves at home. Research in other parts of the world, where traditional wood burning is used in the home, has shown that this is harmful and causes asthma, COPD and lung cancer. These findings suggest that wood-burners used in European homes may have similar effects and should be considered a potential environmental risk factor when assessing respiratory health, especially in patients with unexplained lung function decline or chronic respiratory symptoms,” he said.
Although newer eco-design stoves are marketed as cleaner alternatives, Professor Johannessen cautioned that many European households continue to use older models and that even modern designs may not be entirely risk-free. “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,” he added.
The findings also raise questions about regulation and enforcement in the UK. Despite laws intended to limit smoke emissions, enforcement has been minimal. Between September 2023 and August 2024, more than 5,600 complaints about wood burning in English smoke control zones resulted in just four fines. Meanwhile, the government has confirmed that modern wood-burning stoves will remain permissible under the Future Homes Standard for new-build and self-build homes, a decision criticised by health experts.
Other UK research has suggested that the risks extend beyond respiratory health. A team at the University of Surrey found that even eco-certified stoves can produce pollutant concentrations above safe thresholds in poorly ventilated homes, with potential impacts on the heart, kidneys, brain and nervous system.