Sir, – It’s that time of the year again, when the Environmental Protection Agency air quality report (“Particulates from solid fuel burning pose threat to health, warns EPA”, November 22nd) highlights the impact of solid fuel home heating on public health.
The impact is truly shocking with a reported 1,300 premature deaths annually from the fine particulate pollution home fires cause.
What’s all the more shocking is that so many of these fires are discretionary and “decorative”, lit by people who have cleaner alternatives, but who strive to attain Scandinavian levels of “hygge”, with their trendy new stoves, often “glowingly” presented on your property pages.
Presumably those seeking hygge highs do not properly understand the health impact on their neighbours or their own household, particularly in these Covid times where any diminution of respiratory and general health can render one more vulnerable.
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Minister for the Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan has made some promising noises, but now needs to light a (figurative!) fire under this and introduce the long promised legislation for nationwide fuel standards to outlaw the most polluting fuels. – Yours, etc,
JOHN J O’GRADY,
Chapelizod,
Dublin 20.