As the weather gets colder, many of us look forward to cosy evenings at home. However, burning wood releases tiny particles into the air that can travel deep into our lungs and bloodstream, affecting both our own health and that of our neighbours.
Open fires are particularly polluting, emitting over 4,000 times more PM2.5 than a gas boiler. In 2023, domestic wood burning accounted for around 11% of the UK’s total PM2.5 emissions.
This Clean Air Night (17 November 2026), consider whether there are cleaner ways to keep warm and help improve the air we all breathe.
Find out more about the health impacts of wood burning through Mums for Lungs
