Cancer

Burning wood produces both particulate pollution and toxic pollution. Research shows that wood smoke particles contain many toxic substances, some of which are altered (being eventually even more dangerous than in their unaltered state).

Studies indicate that heating with wood before or during pregnancy increases the risk of the child developing acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Other studies show that many different carcinogenic substances are emitted when burning wood.

One of them for example concludes that there is a relation between the use of a wood stove in private households and brain tumors in children

Children have a lifelong increased risk of developing lung cancer when inhaling polluted air from wood burning. This is because children absorb more of the carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to their size and physiological differences.