Deadly Indoor Air: India's Children In Danger

Household air pollution is a pressing public health issue in India, causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year globally, including 237,000 children under the age of five. In India, approximately half a million children under five die annually from indoor air pollution, primarily due to the use of dirty fuels for cooking, such as biomass, charcoal, paraffin, and coal. This issue disproportionately affects women and children, who are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood, exposing them to harmful smoke and pollutants. The health consequences of indoor air pollution include respiratory infections, low birth weight, developmental delays, and cardiovascular issues. India has initiated programs like the National Clean Air Programme to address this issue, but more comprehensive and coordinated efforts are needed to protect children's health and mitigate climate change.

Indoor air pollution causes 464 daily child deaths in India

India has long struggled with air pollution, and it has emerged as a formidable threat to public health. According to the latest 'State of Global Air (SoGA) 2024' report, toxic air kills approximately 464 children daily in India, with a total of 2,000 young lives lost worldwide every day. This makes air pollution the second leading cause of death among children under five, surpassing poor sanitation and inadequate clean water.

The primary culprit behind these alarming numbers is PM2.5, fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, which contribute to over 90% of air pollution-related deaths globally. These particles infiltrate the bloodstream, impacting vital organs and leading to a range of diseases, including lung and heart conditions. Indoor air pollution, specifically, poses a severe risk to children's health in India. It is estimated that 400,000 to 550,000 premature deaths occur annually in India due to indoor air pollution, with children under five and adult women being the most vulnerable.

Indoor air pollution arises from the use of inefficient and polluting fuels and technologies in households. In India, major sources of indoor air pollution include tobacco smoke and smoke from solid fuels used in leaky and inefficient cooking stoves. The use of dirty fuels, such as biomass, charcoal, paraffin, and coal, for cooking contributes significantly to indoor air pollution. This issue is particularly acute in low and middle-income countries, where access to clean cooking fuels may be limited.

The health consequences of indoor air pollution are severe, especially for children. In India, indoor air pollution is linked to acute respiratory infections (ARI), which often progress to severe stages, including pneumonia, and result in high mortality rates. Additionally, indoor air pollution is associated with low birth weight, developmental delays, growth failure, and an increased risk of anemia among children. The impact of indoor air pollution extends beyond physical health, with studies suggesting a potential link between early-life exposure to indoor air pollution and lower IQ levels in children.

Addressing indoor air pollution is crucial to protect the health and well-being of children in India. Transitioning to cleaner alternatives, such as solar cookstoves, and adopting improved ventilation practices can significantly reduce emissions and improve health outcomes. Moreover, policy interventions, such as the National Clean Air Programme in India, aim to comprehensively tackle the issue of air pollution, including indoor sources. However, a coordinated multi-sectoral approach is necessary to effectively minimize the burden of indoor air pollution on child health in India.

Household air pollution is caused by inefficient fuels and technologies

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2.1 billion people worldwide rely on polluting fuels and technologies for their cooking, heating, and lighting needs. This includes the use of inefficient stoves and open fires fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung, and crop waste), charcoal, and coal. These fuels and technologies generate harmful household air pollution, which has severe health impacts.

In India, indoor air pollution is a significant contributor to the national disease burden. It is estimated that indoor air pollution in India causes 400,000 to 550,000 premature deaths annually, with children under five and adult women being the most vulnerable. The latest 'State of Global Air (SoGA) 2024' report reveals that toxic air kills approximately 464 children daily in India, with air pollution ranking as the second leading cause of death among children under five, after malnutrition.

The primary culprits of indoor air pollution in India are solid fuels used for cooking, such as biomass, charcoal, paraffin, and coal. These dirty fuels release dangerous particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other toxic pollutants, leading to indoor air pollution levels that far exceed the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines. The use of inefficient and leaky cooking stoves exacerbates the problem, with smoke from these stoves contributing significantly to indoor air pollution.

The ingestion of kerosene is the leading cause of childhood poisonings, and the use of open fires and unstable stoves also results in burns and scalds, especially among children. Women and children, who are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood, bear the brunt of the health impacts of household air pollution. Exposure to indoor air pollution has been linked to various health issues, including pneumonia, acute lower respiratory infections, and other severe infections in children.

Transitioning to cleaner alternatives, such as improved biomass stoves, solar cookstoves, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and natural gas, can significantly reduce emissions and improve health outcomes. However, significant gaps remain, with 2.3 billion people worldwide lacking access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. Addressing this issue requires a global effort to prioritize investments in cleaner alternatives and improve access to them, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Women and children are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution is a major public health threat in India, causing an estimated 400,000 to 550,000 premature deaths annually, with children and women bearing the brunt of this burden. Women and children are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution due to several factors, including the amount of time spent indoors, their proximity to cooking areas, and the use of solid biomass fuels for cooking.

In India, about 83% of rural households and 20% of urban households rely on solid biomass fuels, such as cow dung cakes, wood, and coal, for cooking. The combustion of these fuels releases toxic pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and benzene. Women, who are typically responsible for cooking in Indian households, are exposed to these pollutants for extended periods, leading to serious health risks. Additionally, the smoke from these fuels contributes to indoor air pollution, affecting both women and children.

Children are particularly vulnerable to indoor air pollution due to their developing lungs and immune systems. Indoor air pollution can cause respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, and increase the risk of asthma and allergies. It can also impact their academic performance by lowering concentration levels and increasing school absences due to illness. According to a case-control study, solid-fuel use significantly increased child deaths at ages 1-4 years, with more girls dying than boys from exposure to these fuels.

The use of solid fuels for cooking also has economic implications, particularly for women. The time spent collecting fuel and cooking contributes to lost income-generating opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Additionally, indoor air pollution caused by solid fuels has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, further exacerbating the impact on women's health and well-being.

Addressing indoor air pollution in India requires a multifaceted approach. The Indian government has made efforts to promote cleaner sources of fuel, such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG), through subsidies and interest-free loans for women from low-income households. However, the rising cost of LPG has led some households to return to solid fuels. Public awareness and education about the health risks of indoor air pollution and the adoption of cleaner energy sources are crucial. Additionally, improving access to clean energy for marginalized caste groups and tribal communities, who are disproportionately affected, is essential to ensure equitable solutions.

Solid fuels and tobacco smoke are major sources of indoor air pollution

In India, toxic air kills 464 children daily, with a total of around 7 million deaths per year from exposure to fine particles in air pollution. Indoor air pollution is a significant contributor to this, with solid fuels and tobacco smoke being major sources of harmful pollutants. Solid fuels, such as wood, crop waste, charcoal, coal, and dung, are burned indoors for cooking and heating in developing countries, releasing fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other toxins. These pollutants can infiltrate the bloodstream, impacting organs and contributing to various diseases. The combustion of solid fuels produces gases such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, as well as particulate matter, including PM2.5, which are responsible for a large proportion of air pollution-related deaths.

Tobacco smoke is another critical source of indoor air pollution. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), including secondhand smoke, accounts for a significant portion of indoor particulate matter concentrations, especially in high-income countries. Tobacco smoke can cause ten times more air pollution than diesel car exhaust, and exposure to it has been linked to lung cancer and other health issues. The ingestion of kerosene, often used alongside solid fuels, is the leading cause of childhood poisoning, and it is also linked to severe burns and injuries, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The use of solid fuels and tobacco smoke contributes to indoor air pollution, which has severe health consequences, especially for women and children. They are more vulnerable due to their involvement in household chores, such as cooking and collecting firewood, resulting in prolonged exposure to harmful smoke. Additionally, the lack of access to clean cooking fuels and technologies exacerbates the problem, with 2.3 billion people worldwide relying on polluting fuels. Transitioning to cleaner alternatives, such as solar cookstoves, can significantly reduce emissions and improve health outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Indoor air pollution caused by solid fuels and tobacco smoke has detrimental effects on health, particularly in developing nations. It contributes to respiratory infections, asthma, heart disease, and cancer. The combustion of solid fuels releases harmful pollutants, including particulate matter, gases, and toxic organic compounds, which have been linked to an increased risk of chronic lung disease development and respiratory morbidity. The impact of indoor air pollution extends beyond health, affecting economies and people's quality of life. Addressing indoor air pollution through policy interventions, improved ventilation, and access to clean technologies and fuels is crucial to mitigate its adverse effects on public health and the environment.

Indoor air pollution is a major cause of ill health in India

Indoor air pollution in India is largely caused by the use of polluting fuels and technologies in the home, such as solid fuels and leaky, inefficient cooking stoves. These can emit small particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to a range of health issues. Women and children are disproportionately affected as they are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood, which means they spend more time exposed to harmful smoke.

The health consequences of indoor air pollution are severe, with an estimated 400,000–550,000 premature deaths occurring annually in India due to indoor air pollution, including children under five and adult women. This figure may seem shockingly high, but it is a conservative estimate when compared to other countries, such as the US. In 2021, approximately half a million deaths among children worldwide were linked to indoor air pollution from cooking with dirty fuels, and it is estimated that 464 children under five die daily in India due to toxic air.

Indoor air pollution is a major cause of acute respiratory infections (ARI), which can progress to severe stages such as pneumonia and death in India and other poor countries. It is also associated with a range of other health issues, including low birth weight, tuberculosis, and an increased risk of cancers.

To address the issue of indoor air pollution in India, significant policy changes and investments are needed to increase access to clean fuels and technologies, improve ventilation in homes, and promote cleaner alternatives such as solar cookstoves.

Frequently asked questions