‘A ban on the sale of wet wood and coal to burn in domestic fireplaces has been criticised amid claims it will push people in rural areas into poverty – and be impossible to enforce.
The rationale behind the Government’s decision, which will come into force in 2021, is to reduce the most dangerous type of air pollution – ultrafine particles known as PM2.5.
These tiny specks of soot can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, and are linked to asthma, heart disease, strokes and early death.
They have been described by the doctor’s bible, the BMJ as ‘the most hazardous air pollutant’ – and responsible for more than 37,000 deaths a year.
Instead, residents will have to burn dry wood or smokeless fuel, which are more expensive.’
