Wood burning stoves could be banned as new figures reveal air pollution has been linked to more than three out of every 100 death in Scotland's cities.
The proportion of deaths related to the deadly toxin PM2.5 are highest in Edinburgh, with the latest data linking it to 157 deaths in one year – 3.7 per cent of all adult deaths in the city.
But Glasgow has seen the most deaths overall in Scotland – 354 in one year, equating to 3.4 per cent of all deaths.
Half of deadly PM2.5 toxins generated in cities and large towns come from sources such as coal fires and wood-burning stoves.
In total, an estimated 628 deaths were PM2.5-related in Scotland’s four main cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee in one year.
The figures are from research and policy institute Centre for Cities’ annual study of the UK’s major urban areas, Cities Outlook 2020.
It says transport is “a significant, but not sole contributor to air pollution”, with burning fuels also a major cause.
Chief executive Andrew Carter said: “People in Scotland should be at the centre of the fight against toxic air and councils should take the steps needed, including charging people to drive in city centres and banning wood-burning stoves.
“The Government needs to provide Scottish councils with extra money and introduce stricter guidelines. Failure to act now will lead to more deaths in Scotland.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We launched the independent review of air quality strategy, 'Cleaner Air for Scotland - The Road to a Healthier Future', in November 2018. We published conclusions and recommendations of the review in August 2019 and sought comment on these in the autumn.
"We will now consider in detail the recommendations and wider views and will consult on a revised strategy this year. The issue of domestic wood burning stoves is being considered as part of that review.”
