Woodburners vs Cigarettes? The Real Story Behind the Latest Woodburning Stoves Health Risks Headlines

Recent headlines claim woodburning stoves damage lungs like cigarettes — but the science tells a different story. We unpack the UCL study, the SIA’s response, and the real woodburning stoves health risks.

October 16, 2025
By Reece Toscani
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Woodburner News

The Spark That Lit the Debate

If you’ve scrolled through the news lately, you might have seen some fiery headlines — “Woodburners damage lungs like cigarette smoke”, shouted The Independent and others. The claim stems from new research presented by University College London (UCL) at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, and it quickly spread across national media.

For anyone trying to understand woodburning stoves health risks, the headlines sounded alarming. But as with most click-driven stories, the truth is a little more complicated.

The UCL presentation didn’t actually test stove emissions against cigarette smoke. It analysed national data to map who uses solid fuel heating, where they live, and how their reported lung function changed over time. That’s useful context — but it’s not proof of cause and effect. Even the researchers themselves urged caution, saying that “quasi-experimental methods” were needed to explore links properly.

But nuance doesn’t trend on social media. “Woodburners = cigarettes” does.

What the Study Really Said

The UCL study followed adults over an eight-year period, comparing lung function between households using solid fuels and those that didn’t.

The results suggested that people using any form of solid fuel heating — wood, coal, peat, or biomass — showed a slightly faster decline in lung function on average. However, the study also found that these households tended to have higher baseline health to begin with. In other words, they started off healthier, and while their lung performance declined marginally faster, the overall difference was small and statistically cautious.

Nowhere in the study was there a statement equating the effects of modern stoves to smoking cigarettes. That comparison appeared only in the media coverage — not the research itself.

So while woodburning stoves health risks deserve continued scrutiny, the evidence presented doesn’t justify the headline panic.

When Science Meets Headlines

It’s easy to see why editors loved the “cigarette smoke” angle. It’s emotive, simple, and guaranteed to provoke a reaction. But it collapses several important distinctions into one lazy label: “woodburning.”

That term covers an enormous range of sources — from open fires and garden bonfires to ancient cast-iron stoves, log boilers, and the latest sealed Ecodesign appliances. Lumping all of those together is like comparing a diesel lorry to a Tesla and calling both “cars that pollute.”

When journalists use woodburning stoves as a catch-all, it distorts the data and exaggerates the health risks of woodburning stoves that are actually designed to reduce emissions.

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The SIA Responds

The Stove Industry Association (SIA) moved quickly to set the record straight with a detailed statement: “Stoves vs. Smoking? Why the Science Doesn’t Support the Comparison.”

Their response was clear:

“The abstract of the research presented does not state what the headlines suggest. It does not present a causal link between stove use and lung damage, nor does it equate stove emissions with cigarette smoke.”

The SIA highlighted that modern Ecodesign-compliant stoves are sealed appliances with controlled combustion and a chimney flue that vents emissions outdoors. When installed correctly and used with Woodsure Ready to Burn certified wood, indoor emissions are minimal and can’t be equated with inhaling smoke.

They also reminded the public of the progress already made:

Modern Ecodesign stoves emit up to 90% fewer particulates than open fires.
Since January 2022, all new stoves sold in the UK must meet Ecodesign standards.
In Smoke Control Areas, only DEFRA-exempt stoves can legally burn wood.
The clearSkies certification scheme provides an independent mark of performance, verifying that a stove meets or exceeds these standards.

The statement didn’t dismiss the discussion around woodburning stoves health risks — it simply urged accuracy and perspective.

Why Context Matters

Particulate matter is a valid concern, and no responsible manufacturer or retailer denies that burning wood produces emissions. But scale and context matter.

DEFRA’s own data shows that domestic combustion contributes around 20% of the UK’s PM₂.₅ emissions — but that figure includes everything: open fires, garden waste burning, old stoves, barbecues, and even pizza ovens. Modern Ecodesign woodburners represent a fraction of that total, and their emissions continue to fall as technology improves.

So when a headline screams “woodburners pollute more than cars,” it’s technically referencing a dataset that includes the family bonfire and grandad’s 1970s coal stove. That’s like blaming today’s EV for the soot from a steam train.

Reducing Woodburning Stoves Health Risks Through Innovation

Behind the scenes, stove manufacturers are pouring research into cleaner combustion. Advances in secondary and tertiary air systems, post-combustion chambers, and hybrid pellet-log models are pushing efficiencies well above 80 %, while drastically reducing particulate output.

The latest clearSkies Level 5 and Blue Angel-certified appliances go even further, often emitting less than 0.5 g of particulates per hour under laboratory conditions.

Every year brings another leap in airflow design, refractory materials, and digital monitoring — part of a long-term commitment to reduce woodburning stoves health risks while keeping the technology viable for modern homes.

So Where Does This Leave Homeowners?

Ultimately, this debate isn’t about whether woodburners emit anything — they do. It’s about informed choice. Homeowners deserve accurate information, not alarmist headlines.

Used properly with dry, certified fuel, and maintained by qualified installers, a modern stove is an efficient, renewable, and resilient heat source — particularly valuable for rural or off-grid homes. For those with older appliances or open fires, upgrading to an Ecodesign or clearSkies-rated model can cut emissions dramatically and improve indoor air quality.

The UCL study raises legitimate questions about woodburning stoves health risks, and further research is always welcome. But equating a modern Ecodesign stove to smoking cigarettes is not science — it’s sensationalism.

Woodburning deserves honest scrutiny, but it also deserves context. When done responsibly, it can still play a positive role in Britain’s low-carbon, energy-independent future.

What do you think?
Do stories like this make you rethink how you view woodburning — or just highlight the media’s talent for exaggeration? Drop a comment below.

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Reece Toscani

Reece has over two decades in the fireplace and stove world — testing, reviewing, and occasionally getting covered in soot, all in the name of wood-fired home heating. He cuts through the nonsense, busts the myths, and shares straight-talking advice to help you enjoy your stove without the confusion. From Fireplace Products to Redefining Woodburners, if it burns wood, he’s probably tested it, fixed it, or argued about it. Now, through Woodburner Insights, he shares that experience with the world — both here and on YouTube.