Calls have been made this week for the Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to remove advertising for wood-burning fireplaces on the Tube network due to their impact on air pollution and human health.
Hina Bokhari, a Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Environment spokesperson has called on the Mayor to remove the adverts, citing that the Mayor has previously placed a ban on junk food advertising due to its impact on health.
Air pollution causes thousands of early deaths a year in London and domestic wood burning is one of the main sources of PM2.5 which is recognised as the most harmful of all air pollutants. The impacts of PM2.5 are worsened in built-up urban areas such as London.
High levels of PM2.5 lead to a variety of respiratory and cardiac illnesses such as asthma and strokes and have even been linked to dementia.
Across the UK, Government data has shown that the emissions of PM2.5 from domestic wood burning has increased by 124 per cent between 2011 and 2021 with experts stating there is generally poor public awareness about the consequences of using wood burners.
So-called ‘eco-design’ wood burners and stoves such as those being advertised are still highly polluting and considered worse for air pollution than either electrical heating or a gas boiler. A 2022 report, by Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty found that “Ecodesign” wood-burning stoves produced on average 450 times more toxic air pollution than gas central heating.
Commenting Hina Bokhari AM said, “Now is a chance for the Mayor of London to show he is consistent with his messaging and promises. The Mayor has previously banned advertising on the TfL network for junk food due to its risk to human health, there is no reason he shouldn’t do the same for wood-burning heaters and stoves.
“This is especially the case as Sadiq Khan has sought to make air pollution such a key issue of his term in office.
“We need a public awareness campaign about the dangers of woodburning stoves and fireplaces in our homes, not extra advertising.”
Jemima Hartshorn the Founder of the campaign group Mums for Lungs added, “The evidence is clear: Domestic burning in London whether in a stove or an open fire is adding huge unnecessary amounts of pollution to our toxic air. We are worried that this is particularly appealing during the current cold snap.
“We really everyone who has alternative heating to stop this harmful practice to protect children’s lungs. We urge the Mayor to speak out loudly and publicly asking Londoners to stop burning.”
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