Top doctors have issued a stark warning over the dangers of wood burners in urban homes, highlighting the serious risk they pose to children’s health. According to The Times, leading paediatricians are urging for these burners to be eliminated as air pollution emerges as a major threat, now the second leading cause of death for children under five years old.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has made a strong plea to the government, advising a “phaseout domestic wood burning in urban areas, assist rural residents to transition away from wood as a primary heating source and support those in fuel poverty with fuel cost assistance”.
Dr Emily Parker, associated with the RCPCH, expressed her concerns: “I see the impacts of air pollution on children during almost every shift…that’s why we’re calling on the government to tackle the top causes of PM2.5 [particulate matter] and nitrogen dioxide, the two air pollutants that are most harmful to children’s health. Air pollution limits across the UK are currently set dangerously high, often at four times WHO [World Health Organisation] guidelines.”
Adding to the urgency, Dr Michael McKean, the RCPCH vice president for policy, stated: “Breathing dirty air as a child irreversibly stunts lung growth and continues to affect lung capacity in adulthood; in some cases it can even result in death.”
Furthermore, the Royal College is advocating for parliamentary approval of both Ella’s law and Awaab’s law to combat this pressing issue.
Ella Roberta Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a nine year old girl, tragically passed away in 2013 due to asthma complications exacerbated by London’s poor air quality. Two year old Awaab Ishak also lost his life in 2020 due to a respiratory condition caused by mould in his home in Rochdale.
The college is now advocating for the adoption of the World Health Organization’s air-quality guidelines.
The growing trend of using wood burners in UK homes has led to them becoming the primary source of PM2.5, a highly hazardous air pollutant.
In 2021, domestic combustion accounted for a staggering 27% of PM2.5 emissions, surpassing the amount produced by vehicles.
A government spokesperson assured The Times that they are dedicated to “cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harm of pollution” and are currently devising a plan to establish legally binding targets for enhancing air quality.