New wood burning stoves could carry health warnings

Clean air campaigners argue that the proposals ignore pollution from existing stoves, while UCL expert adds that much stronger regulation is needed

New wood burning stoves could carry a health warning detailing the impact of the air pollution they generate, says new government plans aimed at slashing the limit of smoke emitted from wood burners by 80%.

Proposals would not only limit the amount of smoke emitted by newly purchased appliances to 1g per hour – down from 5g per hour – but also see new labels applied to appliances to provide clear and consistent health information. Mandatory health impact labels would also be applied to the packaging of fuels. This could cut emissions by just 10% over the next decade.

Emma Hardy, Air Quality Minister, said: "Dirty air robs people of their health and costs our NHS millions each year to treat lung conditions and asthma. We are determined to clean up our air. By limiting emission levels and introducing new labels as outlined in our consultation, families will be able to make better, healthier choices when heating their homes.” 

Annual emissions have almost doubled from 3,200 tonnes in 2009 to 6,000 tonnes in 2023, making domestic wood burning stoves one of the UK’s biggest sources of air pollution. Emissions have been linked to 2,500 early deaths annually, plus 3,700 cases of diabetes and 1,500 cases of asthma.

Studies estimate that wood burners, which are used by around 12% of households, generate 20% of all fine particulate matter, including PM2.5, one of the most dangerous air pollutants to human health.

“Wood burners are a significant source of harmful air pollution, especially in winter, affecting both outdoor and indoor air quality.”

Dr Laura Horsfall, Principal Research Fellow at UCL Institute of Health Information, said: “Wood burners are a significant source of harmful air pollution, especially in winter, affecting both outdoor and indoor air quality. Wood smoke contains carcinogens and pollutants linked to heart and lung disease, and it is released directly where people live and breathe, so clear warnings are necessary to counter the idea that domestic wood burning is harmless.”

Clean air campaigners argue that the proposals ignore pollution from existing stoves as they will only apply to new burners, many of which already meet stricter guidelines. A study from the University of Surrey in July 2025 found that although newer stoves release fewer pollutant emissions, they still caused a significant spike in indoor pollution during lighting, refuelling and ash removal, often exceeding WHO guidelines.

Horsfall said: “In their current consultative form, the UK warnings are relatively weak and do not fully reflect the scale of the problem,” and that labels may not be enough, as “evidence from other countries suggests real improvements require stronger regulation, proper enforcement of emission standards, and policies that reduce solid fuel demand, including making them economically unattractive in urban areas.”

The UK-wide consultation ends on 19^th March.