Moorland burning exposes millions to unsafe air pollution - University of Leeds

Managed burning on moorland in the UK led to millions of people being exposed to unsafe levels of fine particulate pollution, according to research led by the University of Leeds and the RSPB.

The study shows that on average more than half a million additional people were exposed, with peak exposure affecting up to 2.3 million people. 

During the months analysed, primary emissions of PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) were equivalent to one third of that from road transport with PM2.5 exposure highest in Northern England, North Scotland and East Scotland. The deliberate burns, which were largely carried out to support recreational shooting, led to almost one in five people in affected areas being exposed to unsafe levels of pollution on at least one day in the burning season.

The research is published today (Tuesday 19 May) in the journal Environmental Research Letters.

Lead author, Dr Ailish Graham from Leeds’ School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, said: “Until now, prescribed moorland burning has been seen as a local air quality issue. Our results show that it can increase PM2.5 concentrations across much larger regions, impacting towns and cities across northern England and Scotland. On days burning occurs, millions of people are exposed to increased pollution with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding World Health Organization air quality guidelines.” 

Moorland burning is widely used to maintain a mosaic of heather-dominated moorland for red grouse but the practice releases small particles of pollution in the smoke, known as PM2.5.