Atmospheric carbon particulates damage human health even causing premature deaths. We are used to blaming these emissions on diesel cars. Currently, however, even in the UK, more particulates are produced by household wood burning than via all vehicle emissions. Part of this, appears to be a fad for wood-burning stoves, especially in some wealthier urban areas. Recently, a University College of London study used 26 million energy performance certificates to map areas in England and Wales with potentially high particle pollution. Wood-burning was more common in rural area where this fuel is cheap and easily available. Urban areas tended, however, to have a higher overall concentration of wood-burners. This was a particularly high in smoke control areas (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/18/map-residential-wood-burning-england-wales). The data essentially confirms that some folk employ wood-burners because they regard them as being 'ecofriendly' and cosy. This is rather like the situation for diesel fuel that was once strongly advocated, as it produced less carbon dioxide than petrol. Particulates are, however, more immediately dangerous to human health, especially when they are generated in the home.
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