A new study from Australia has found that deaths from everyday exposure to wood burner smoke are comparable to those during the devastating 'black summer' bushfires of 2019-2020. Researchers in Canberra estimated that between 17 and 63 deaths annually in the Australian Capital Territory are attributable to wood smoke, which causes up to a quarter of particle pollution in the city.
Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis, part of the research team, described the pervasive smell of wood smoke in Canberra during winter. He noted that many residents, including those with asthma, feel unable to open windows or spend time outdoors due to the pollution. The study recommends phasing out wood heaters to reduce community exposure.
Separate research has estimated that 284 Londoners die early each year from outdoor air pollution caused by solid-fuel heating. In Greece, a study in Thessaloniki found about 200 extra deaths after many switched to wood heating during the 2012-2013 financial crisis.
Indoor pollution from wood stoves and fireplaces is also a concern. A study of 50,000 US women found a 43% greater chance of lung cancer among those using wood heating. Researchers from the University of Lisbon estimated that heating a living room with an open fireplace for four hours each winter evening could shorten life expectancy by up to 1.6 years.
Dr Nuno Martins, who led the Lisbon research, advised that open fireplaces should be avoided and replaced with closed woodstoves or, ideally, non-wood alternatives. The findings highlight the significant health impacts of wood burning, both outdoors and indoors.
