Hackney Council is a member of the city-wide London Wood Burning Project, campaigning to highlight the impact fireplaces and wood burning stoves have on the city’s air.
Supporting the London Wood Burning Project forms part of Hackney’s ambitious new air quality action plan.
Wood burning is increasingly recognised as a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution in London, a known carcinogen which can cause asthma, heart disease and other serious illnesses affecting our lungs, hearts and brains.
Current evidence suggests that domestic wood burning contributes 15% of London’s PM2.5 air pollution.
According to a LWBP health impact evaluation, every year PM2.5 air pollution has the following health impacts:
- 3,400 life-years lost
- 3 weeks reduction in life expectancy
- 284 equivalent deaths
- 80 respiratory hospital admissions
- 60 new cases of stroke
- 50 new cases of coronary heart disease
- 30 new cases of lung cancer
- 90 new cases of asthma in children
“We’re urging residents to give up wood burning, so we can tackle London’s toxic air and create a healthier Hackney for everyone.
Many people have a romantic view of wood burning and may not be aware of the potential harm it has on health, both to ourselves, to our neighbours, and to the environment. I know I did until I saw the harm that wood smoke causes. Every year stoves and open fires produce vast amounts of both planet-heating carbon dioxide and toxic particulate matter that contributes to the premature deaths of thousands of Londoners through respiratory illness, cancer, and heart disease”.
Cllr Sarah Young, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport
Hackney residents can find out more about tackling air pollution here.
Contact us for more information about tackling air pollution in other areas.
