Research shows major health and economic benefits from reducing domestic burning in UK homes

A new report by Ricardo, a leading environmental and strategic consultancy, shows that reducing the burning of solid fuels in UK homes could contribute to savings up to £54 million in healthcare costs each year and help save up to 1,500 lives, identifying regulation and public education as primary mechanisms needed to address the issue.

Commissioned by Global Action Plan and Hertfordshire County Council, the report looked at the health impacts of domestic burning across the UK. It found that domestic burning is one of the largest sources of fine particulate matter air pollution in the UK, which can lead to heart and lung disease, stroke, cancer and more. Domestic combustion also contributes to an average of 3,741 new cases of diabetes and 1,493 new cases of asthma each year. These health issues not only have serious implications for a person's quality of life but put strain on NHS resources.

Public awareness and government policy are key mechanisms to reduce the impact of domestic burning on health and the economy. To investigate this, the study estimated the impacts of the full enforcement of existing Smoke Control Area legislation, compared to behavioural change of removing all ‘non-essential’ domestic burning of solid fuels. Ceasing all non-essential domestic burning was estimated to save up to £54 million in healthcare costs each year and prevent £164 million wider productivity costs to the UK economy annually, providing benefits almost five times greater than could be achieved using existing Smoking Control Area legislation alone.

Speaking on the report, Guy Hitchcock, Air Quality Technical Director said: “Domestic burning releases fine pollution particles that can be absorbed through the lungs and bloodstream, leading to or exacerbating health issues including asthma, lung cancer, diabetes, and stroke – among others. This directly affects individuals in houses where burning takes place, but also neighbours and communities. From an economic perspective, these health issues cost the NHS millions every year and take up significant resource. Not only would reducing domestic burning improve public health, but it would reduce economic losses from time off work."

Larissa Lockwood, Director of Policy & Campaigns at Global Action Plan – the charity behind Clean Air Night – said: “We all need to stay warm this winter, and we also need to think about the health impacts of our heating choices. An open fire or wood burning stove is the most polluting way to heat a home - air pollution from wood burning stoves is cutting lives short, putting people in hospital, and contributing to serious health conditions for people across the UK. 

“It’s an uncomfortable fact, but the health burden of wood burning on the British public is simply too big to ignore. Existing measures to curb wood burning emissions are not tackling the burning problem at hand. The UK Government must take action to ensure everyone can access cleaner, greener and more affordable heating – including ensuring homes are properly insulated – as well as strengthening powers to allow local authorities to tackle air pollution, and providing clear guidance for the public on the health harms of burning wood and other solid fuels in our homes.” 

ENDS

The full report can be found here: https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/files/health_impacts_from_domestic_burning_in_the_uk.pdf

A summary of the key findings can be found here: https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/files/health_impacts_from_domestic_burning_in_the_uk_-_key_findings.pdf