Wood-burning heaters may expose children to pollution levels matching traffic exhaust

Scientists measured air in buildings where children spend time across six European towns and cities, looking at polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) emitted by burning fuels. Urban areas with widespread wood heating, such as Colchester and Athens, recorded the highest levels of these cancer-related pollutants, even exceeding World Health Organization guidelines. The findings show that winter concentrations of these pollutants are greater than in summer, and children living in homes with wood burners can experience significantly higher particle pollution. While wood-burning is recognized as a major emitter of PAH, researchers were surprised by how heavily it contributes to overall urban air pollution, highlighting potential risks to children's health and cognitive development.