Wood burners linked to 2,500 deaths a year in the UK, analysis finds

Use of wood-burning stoves and fires in homes is mostly unnecessary and their toxic pollution costs the NHS millions

The burning of wood and coal in homes contributes to almost 2,500 deaths a year in the UK, analysis has found. Stopping unnecessary burning would save the NHS more than 54m a year, the experts concluded.

Wood-burning stoves and open fires are one the biggest sources of small pollution particles, which cause heart and lung disease, and their use has risen in recent years. The report also links this toxic air pollution to 3,700 cases of diabetes and 1,500 cases of asthma a year, although the health impacts are likely to be underestimated.