Traditional wood stoves are DANGEROUS for health! Here’s what the study revealed

Wood stoves, long promoted as a warm and “eco-friendly” solution, may be far more dangerous to health than previously thought.

A new study presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam revealed that exposure to smoke from wood stoves negatively affects lung function in a manner similar to the damage caused by smoking.

Researchers from University College London analyzed data from thousands of participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, tracking their health over more than eight years. They used the FEV1 test, an important measure of lung capacity, to assess the impact of wood stove use on the lungs.

The findings were alarming: wood stove users experienced a faster decline in lung function compared to non-users, even though many of them did not smoke and lived in better economic and health conditions.

Although the study was conducted in the UK, the effects of wood stoves are universal. In Albania, where wood heating is still widespread, especially in winter, concerns about health impacts remain the same. Homes without proper ventilation, lack of standards for imported or locally made stoves, and low awareness significantly increase the risk of long-term lung complications.

Dr. Laura Horsfall, lead researcher, stated: “Our study shows that fine particles produced by burning wood cause inflammation and damage lung tissue in a way similar to cigarette smoke. Indoor wood burning is a source of air pollution that is often underestimated.”

She added that even modern “eco-design” stoves are not entirely safe and may pose ongoing health risks, particularly for children and the elderly, who are more sensitive to air pollution.

“KORÇA BOOM”