By Ella Pickover

Copyright independent

A new study by University College London researchers has linked the growing popularity of domestic wood burning to lung damage, comparing its effects to cigarette smoke.

The research, which analysed health data from 11,000 participants, found that lung function declined faster among people using indoor wood burners, even after accounting for socioeconomic and housing factors.

Domestic wood burning is a major source of PM2.5 air pollution in the UK, with self-reported wood fuel use increasing from 10 per cent in 2004/05 to 18 per cent in 2021/22.

The study indicated that wood-burning appliances are more commonly used by white people in affluent city neighbourhoods, including within Smoke Control Zones.

Experts from Asthma and Lung UK and the European Respiratory Society are calling for increased public awareness, clearer government guidance, and greater regulation due to the health risks posed by wood-burning stoves.