Between Ordinary Harm and Deviance: Evaluating the UK’s Regulatory Regime For Controlling Air Pollution From Wood Burning Stoves

Abstract Particulate matter (PM) in air pollution causes illness, injury and premature death by infiltrating essential organs. Wood burning stoves are a primary source of PM the United Kingdom, where domestic wood emissions have tripled over last decade. This article adopts constructivist lens to examine regulatory regime controlling these pollutants. Combining analysis ‘expert’ interviews, responses Freedom Information requests government records exempting appliances from Smoke Control Area rules, it illustrates how efforts at ‘smoke’ past become instrumental encouraging production present. In doing so, this demonstrates utility research sensitive processes underpinning (non)construction environmental issues as deviant suggests through which ordinary harms can be better understood.