Doctors and Scientists Against Wood Smoke Pollution

@dsawsp.org

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We are an international coalition dedicated to reducing harm to human health and our climate by decreasing wood burning. www.dsawsp.org

A video explaining that wood smoke particles enter inside homes, even when windows are closed.
Music plays in the background. Text over images of a fire burning and smoke coming out of a chimney: Wood burning is a choice that takes choice away from others. This is followed by a series of brief quotes from neighbors of wood burners describing how other people’s wood burning has affected them. At the end, the video says What has someone else’s wood burning taken from you? Tell your story.
Text with images of chimneys and a graphic showing the invisible components of wood smoke. Music plays in the background. Text says: Do you have to see wood smoke to be harmed by it? No, you do not. The most harmful components of wood smoke are invisible to the naked eye. Wood smoke opacity is an outdated measure of harm. Clean burning is a myth.
Text over a smoking house chimney says “Wood burning creates air pollution hotspots.” This is followed by various components of wood smoke being shown on top of another chimney: PM2.5, benzene, ultrafine particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, lead, mercury, formaldehyde. Next scene shows a hand slowly closing the door on a lit wood stove. Text says “It’s as simple as that.” Soft music plays in the background.
A screenshot of a news reporter from ABC 7 standing next to a large, soot and grease encrusted industrial food smoker. Nearby in back are what appear to be apartment units in a densely-populated residential area. A caption says, Barbecue battle between restaurant, neighbors, citizens, city say business generates too much smoke.
A montage of two combined screenshots of an article on The Telegraph website. The headline says “The surprising habits linked to dementia.” Underneath it says “Having a wood-burning stove.” There is a drawn-style illustration of a wood fire burning inside a cut-away view of a head, as if it were cooking the brain. Text under the illustration points out that air pollution is linked to dementia. PM2.5 can be deposited in the brain.
A quote that says: High PM2.5 levels outside my child’s bedroom window — yet no help from Environmental Health.
Text overlaid with images of wood being chopped and smoke coming from a house’s chimney: Does the sound of chopping wood now cause distress? Or the smell of wood smoke? Followed by quotes from stories from smoked out neighbors describing their distress.
Views of chimneys and children sitting by a wood stove. Music plays in the background. The text of the video says: Wood smoke is natural… Naturally toxic. Whether you can see it… or not.
A video explains that wood smoke isn’t “a nuisance,” or a neighbor dispute, or about not liking the smell. Wood smoke is toxic air pollution that’s linked to serious health effects and premature deaths. It needs to be treated as what it is, not what it isn’t.
Video text says: It’s simple… Burning clean dry firewood creates dirty, polluted air. All wood burning pollutes. Even in a newer certified wood stove with dry wood.
A screenshot from a University of Galway press release showing Professor Jurgita Ovadnevaite. A headline says “Low smoke doesn’t mean low risk: All solid fuels found to emit ultrafine particles.”
Text over video of wood burning says “Wood burning is a choice… That Takes choice away from others.” Followed by footage of smoky chimneys and a chimenea with quotes from neighbors of wood burners describing how wood smoke has affected their lives. “Tell your story: www.dsawsp.org. Thank you you, all of you who’ve shared your stories with us!”
Text over images with soft music playing in the background: Wood smoke isn’t “a nuisance.” Wood smoke is not a “neighbor dispute.” It’s not about not liking the smell. Wood smoke is… Toxic air pollution … That’s linked to serious health effects and premature deaths. It needs to be viewed for what it is. Not what it isn’t.
A UK village street at night. Text on top says We’re supporting Clean Air Night, 22 January 2026
Written text is shown while music plays in the background: “Do you have to see wood smoke to be harmed by it? No, you do not! The most harmful components of wood smoke are invisible to the naked eye.” A graphic is shown of toxic chemicals coming out of a chimney. “PM2.5… ‘Clean burning’ is a myth.”
A smiling young boy sits in front of a Christmas tree with presents. Next to the tree is a fake boarded-up fireplace that can’t be used to burn wood.
Wood smoke isn’t “a nuisance.” Wood smoke not “a neighbor dispute.” It’s not about “not liking the smell.” Wood smoke is… Toxic air pollution… That’s linked to serious health effects… And premature deaths. It needs to be viewed for what it is… Not what it isn’t.
Wood smoke causes trauma to neighbors of wood burners. “Does the sound of wood being chopped now trigger distress? Or the smell of smoke? If so, you are not alone.” This is followed by quotes from neighbors of wood burners sharing their distress.
A video that says: “Burning clean, dry firewood creates dirty, polluted air. All wood burning pollutes. Even in a newer certified wood stove with dry wood.”
It’s simple. Burning clean, dry firewood creates dirty, polluted air. All wood burning pollutes, even in a newer certified wood stove.
Next to a young girl blowing bubbles is text that says, “Children’s lungs keep developing until adulthood.” The next scene shows clouds on a blue sky with text that says, “Clean wood-smoke-free air matters.
Do you have to see wood smoke to be harmed by it? No, you do not! The most harmful components of wood smoke are invisible to the naked eye. Wood smoke opacity is an outdated measure of harm. “Clean burning” is a myth.
A screenshot from Hackney Council’s website. A cartoon fanged soot monster emerges from a house’s chimney. Text says, “Domestic wood burning, linked to increased risk of asthma and lung cancer. Wood burners. Careless not cosy.” Underneath is a headline that says, “Hackney urges residents not to burn wood this winter.”
A smoking chimney with the question, “How much has your neighbor’s wood heating cost you?” is followed by several quotes from neighbors of wood burners detailing how much they’ve had to spend for air purifiers, moving costs, and extra medications. Text at the end says “Wood heat isn’t cheap. Tell your story. www.dsawsp.org.”
A series of real quotes from neighbors of wood burners describing how wood smoke infiltrates into their homes and makes them sick. In the background is a smoking chimney.
A screenshot from a TV news story. Text says “Ask the Expert: Lung cancer screening.” In the background is a lit wood stove.
A quote that says "wood smoke resembles environmental tobacco smoke, for which numerous studies have shown deleterious effects on the respiratory health of children." Koenig, et al. Pulmonary function changes in children associated with fine particulate matter
A graphic that says #WoodSmokeFacts. Wood burning creates air pollution hotspots. Neighbors of wood burners can be exposed to air pollution levels 100 times what others in the community experience.
Text overlaid on an image of a wood stove chimney says “#WoodSmokeFacts. You don’t have to see wood smoke to be harmed by it. The most harmful components of wood smoke are invisible to the naked eye.”
A graphic of a nose inhaling particles. A caption says “If you can smell wood burning, you’re breathing in harmful air pollution.” Clean Air Night 22 January.
A graphic for Clean Air Night that shows a nose inhaling particles. A caption says: If you can smell wood burning, you’re breathing in harmful air pollution.
A boy in a Santa hat smiles as he draws with a marker. Behind him are Christmas decorations and a decorative fake fireplace that can’t burn wood.
Quotes from real stories submitted by neighbors of wood burners.