Indoor Air Pollution: A Silent Killer In Homes

Air pollution is a leading global risk factor for death, with millions of people dying prematurely every year due to inhaling polluted air. In 2021, air pollution was responsible for 8.1 million deaths globally, including 500,000 children under five. Indoor air pollution, caused by the use of polluting fuels and technologies in homes, is a significant contributor to this figure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution was linked to 4.3 million deaths in 2012, primarily in households cooking over coal, wood, and biomass stoves. This figure has been estimated to be even higher in subsequent years, with indoor air pollution causing up to 3.8 million deaths annually. The impact of indoor air pollution falls disproportionately on women and children, who are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood.

In 2021, indoor air pollution caused 3.8 million deaths

Air pollution is a major global health concern, causing 8.1 million deaths worldwide in 2021. Of these deaths, 7.8 million were attributed to PM2.5 air pollution, including indoor air pollution. While the number of deaths caused specifically by indoor air pollution is not specified, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.8 million people die from indoor air pollution annually. This figure is supported by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), which gives a similar estimate of 3.54 million deaths.

Indoor air pollution is caused by the use of polluting fuels and stoves for cooking, such as solid fuels like wood, crop waste, charcoal, coal, and dung, as well as kerosene. These fuels are burned in open fires or inefficient stoves, releasing particulate matter and other pollutants into the air. Women and children, who are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood, bear the greatest health burden from indoor air pollution.

The health effects of indoor air pollution are significant. Particulate matter and pollutants can irritate the airways and lungs, impair immune response, and reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This can lead to various diseases, including ischaemic heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infection, and lung cancer. In 2019, indoor air pollution accounted for an estimated 86 million healthy life years lost, with the greatest burden falling on women and children in low- and middle-income countries.

To address the health risks posed by indoor air pollution, the WHO has issued guidelines for indoor air quality and household fuel combustion. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on the use of clean fuels and technologies, such as solar, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas, alcohol fuels, and biomass stoves that meet emission targets. By transitioning to these cleaner energy sources, the health and environmental benefits can be significant.

While the overall death rate from air pollution is high, there is hope for improvement. Data shows that air pollution death rates are falling, even in the most polluted countries. This can be attributed to the implementation of air quality measures and the transition to cleaner energy sources. By continuing to prioritize air quality improvements and following the recommendations outlined by organizations like the WHO, it is possible to reduce the number of deaths caused by indoor air pollution and improve the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide.

Household air pollution causes noncommunicable diseases

Household air pollution is a serious issue that contributes to the premature deaths of 3.2 million people annually. It is caused by the incomplete combustion of solid fuels and kerosene used for cooking, lighting, and space heating. Women and children, who are typically responsible for household chores, bear the brunt of the health consequences of using these polluting fuels and technologies.

Household air pollution is a key contributor to noncommunicable diseases, which constitute the largest and fastest-growing global health burden. Noncommunicable diseases are long-lasting or chronic conditions that do not spread from person to person. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified air pollution as the single largest environmental health risk, and it is a leading risk factor for death from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer, and other noncommunicable diseases.

The pollutants found in household air pollution, such as particulate matter and other toxins, have severe health effects. They can cause inflammation in the airways and lungs, impair the immune system, and reduce the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. These pollutants are also linked to low birth weight, tuberculosis, cataracts, and cancers of the nasopharynx and larynx. The impact of household air pollution on children is particularly concerning, with nearly 500,000 child deaths linked to it in 2021, making it the second-leading risk factor for death in children under five.

The sources of household air pollution are often the same as those contributing to climate change, such as polluting energy systems and the inefficient combustion of fuels in cookstoves and diesel engines. Black carbon, a byproduct of these combustion processes, is the second-largest contributor to global warming. It also significantly contributes to urban exposure to PM2.5, a type of fine particulate matter that is a major global health concern.

To address the health risks posed by household air pollution, the WHO has issued guidelines for indoor air quality, recommending clean fuels and technologies such as solar, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and natural gas. These solutions not only reduce household air pollution but also contribute to mitigating climate change. By transitioning to cleaner fuels and technologies, we can protect the health of vulnerable populations, especially women and children, and reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases caused by household air pollution.

Children under five are especially vulnerable to indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution is a significant contributor to the global health crisis, with an estimated 3.2 million people dying prematurely each year from illnesses caused by household air pollution. This figure rises to 6.7 million when combined with ambient air pollution. Children under five are especially vulnerable to the impacts of indoor air pollution, and it is the second leading risk factor for death in this age group. UNICEF reports that in 2021, over 700,000 children under five died due to the health impacts of air pollution, with 500,000 of these deaths linked to household air pollution.

Young children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of indoor air pollution due to several factors. Firstly, they breathe more rapidly than adults, taking in more air relative to their body weight. They also tend to breathe through their mouths, which increases the number of pollutants inhaled. Children's lungs are still developing, making them more vulnerable to pollutants, and their immune systems are weaker than those of adults. As a result, they are at greater risk of viruses, bacteria, and other infections.

The sources of indoor air pollution also play a significant role in their impact on children under five. Pollutants from cooking with solid fuels, such as wood, charcoal, or coal, are major contributors to household air pollution. Women and children, who typically perform household chores like cooking and collecting firewood, bear the brunt of the health consequences from using these polluting fuels and technologies. In 2021, an estimated 2.3 billion people, or about 30% of the global population, relied on these polluting fuels and technologies for cooking, unknowingly exposing themselves and their children to harmful levels of indoor air pollution.

The first 1,000 days of a baby's life are critical, as exposure to air pollution during this period can alter their physical and cognitive development, leading to childhood and adult disorders. Air pollution is also linked to low birth weight and preterm births, with 34% of preterm births associated with air pollution. These children may face a lifetime of health issues, disabilities, and developmental delays.

The impact of indoor air pollution on children under five is not limited to physical health. Air pollution has been linked to cognitive development issues, with exposure during early life stages affecting brain development and leading to potential disorders. UNICEF's Healthy Environments for Healthy Children Framework emphasizes the importance of addressing environmental threats to children's health, including indoor air pollution, to mitigate the short- and long-term health consequences on this vulnerable age group.

In 2012, 4.3 million deaths were linked to indoor air pollution

Air pollution is a major global health concern. In 2012, 4.3 million deaths were linked to indoor air pollution, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This figure represents a significant portion of the total estimated 7 million deaths attributed to air pollution that year. The majority of these indoor air pollution-related deaths occurred in households that cooked over coal, wood, and biomass stoves.

The impact of indoor air pollution on health is profound, with particulate matter and other pollutants inflaming airways and lungs, impairing immune responses, and reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Women and children, who are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood, bear the brunt of the health consequences associated with indoor air pollution. They are exposed to smoke and soot from inefficient and polluting fuel sources, such as leaky coal and wood-burning stoves.

The use of polluting fuels and stoves for cooking has led to the widespread issue of indoor air pollution. In response, the WHO issued the "Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Household Fuel Combustion" to provide evidence-based guidance on cleaner fuel and technology alternatives. These recommendations include solar, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas, alcohol fuels, and biomass stoves that meet specific emission targets.

The health impact of indoor air pollution extends beyond respiratory issues. It has been linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes and ischaemic heart disease, as well as cancer. In 2019, indoor air pollution was responsible for an estimated 86 million healthy life years lost, with the greatest burden falling on women and children in low- and middle-income countries. The inequities are stark, with the air pollution-linked death rate in children under five in Africa being 100 times higher than in high-income countries.

Addressing indoor air pollution is crucial to reducing the overall health impact of air pollution. While death rates from air pollution are declining, it remains a significant risk factor. In 2021, air pollution was responsible for 8.1 million deaths globally, with children under five being especially vulnerable. The transition to clean fuels and technologies is essential to mitigate the health and environmental consequences of indoor air pollution.

Indoor air pollution is caused by cooking with polluting fuels

Indoor air pollution is a major issue, causing an estimated 3.2 million premature deaths annually. It is caused by cooking with polluting fuels such as solid fuels and kerosene, which are burnt indoors without proper ventilation. This is a particular problem in low- and middle-income countries, where around 2.1 billion people still cook using these fuels. The issue is also prominent in Africa and Asia, where hundreds of millions of people are affected.

Solid fuels include wood, crop waste, charcoal, coal, and dung, which are burnt in open fires or inefficient stoves. These fires and stoves can produce high levels of indoor air pollution, with fine particle levels up to 100 times higher than acceptable limits. This pollution contains particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other toxic pollutants, which have severe health impacts. The health consequences of indoor air pollution are wide-ranging and include respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.

Women and children are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution as they are typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood. In Africa, women and children account for 60% of early deaths related to smoke inhalation and indoor air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable due to their faster breathing rate and developing immune systems. In 2021, household air pollution caused the deaths of 237,000 children under five.

To address the issue of indoor air pollution caused by cooking with polluting fuels, the WHO has issued guidelines for indoor air quality, recommending clean fuels and technologies such as solar, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas, alcohol fuels, and biomass stoves that meet emission targets. These cleaner alternatives can help reduce health risks and improve environmental sustainability.

The use of polluting cooking fuels has decreased since 1990, but access to clean energy remains limited in some regions, such as South Asia and parts of Africa. Significant policy changes and investments are needed to increase access to clean fuels and technologies, improve ventilation, and promote the use of clean energy.

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