Greta Jimenez
Pollution disproportionately affects women and children due to a combination of biological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. Women are more vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution, particularly respiratory issues and complications during pregnancy. This is partly due to biological factors such as hormonal differences and reduced lung function. Additionally, women are more likely to be exposed to indoor air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels, especially in low-income households. Social factors, such as gender inequality and poverty, further increase the impact of pollution on women. Children, especially in low-income families, are more susceptible to pollution due to their developing respiratory systems and higher exposure to pollutants in their immediate environment, such as schools and playgrounds. They also spend more time indoors, where they are exposed to indoor air pollution from cooking and cleaning products. Furthermore, certain racial and ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by pollution due to factors like racism, housing market dynamics, and proximity to pollution sources. Addressing these disparities requires interventions that consider the unique exposure pathways and vulnerabilities of these groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Biological factors | Women have more chronic health conditions such as COPD and asthma, which are more common in women than in men. Women also have smaller airways, greater airway reactivity, and greater deposition of PM2.5. |
| Women are more vulnerable to other forms of emission, such as transport emissions, because of their reduced lung function. | |
| Hormonal status and sex-linked biological differences influence chemical transport and systemic regulation in women. | |
| Pregnancy and lactation in women are associated with reduced chemical excretion, which can lead to higher levels of chemicals in the body. | |
| Social factors | Women and children spend more time indoors, leading to greater exposure to indoor air pollution. |
| Indoor air pollution is aggravated by the use of fuels such as wood, dung cake, crop residue, and kerosene for cooking and heating. | |
| Low-income households prefer to use these fuels due to their free availability and easy access. | |
| Women spend more time on unpaid domestic work, including cooking, cleaning, and caregiver responsibilities. | |
| Women are more likely to live in counties with higher levels of pollution. | |
| Women are more likely to be unemployed, have low income or low education, and be non-Hispanic Black. |
What You'll Learn
- Women and children are more vulnerable to indoor air pollution from cooking fuels
- Women are more susceptible to air pollution due to reduced lung function
- Women are disproportionately affected by climate change
- Women are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their time spent on domestic chores
- Women are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their higher rates of respiratory conditions
Women and children are more vulnerable to indoor air pollution from cooking fuels
In India, for example, household air pollution was responsible for 0.61 million deaths in 2019, with indoor air pollution from cooking fuels playing a significant role. The effects of indoor air pollution are worse in the case of pregnant women, as air pollution affects fetal growth, resulting in premature birth, low birth weight, growth limitations, and cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, social factors such as poverty, gender invisibility, and inequality further increase the impact of household air pollution on women.
Women with greater exposure to poor indoor air are also more vulnerable to other forms of emission, such as transport emissions, due to their reduced lung function. As a result, women disproportionately experience respiratory health problems attributed to dual exposure to air pollutants from ambient and household toxins.
Indoor air pollution is greatly aggravated by the use of polluting cooking fuels. Low-income households often use these fuels due to their free availability and easy access, especially in peri-urban and rural areas. While the coverage of cleaner cooking fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has increased in recent years, rural areas still lag in LPG usage despite subsidies and government incentives.
Creating ward- and village-level emission inventories will provide greater insight into the use of solid fuels and help develop more focused national-level policies to address this issue. Empowering women and raising awareness about the negative health outcomes associated with polluting cooking fuels are crucial steps in mitigating the impact of indoor air pollution on women and children.
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Women are more susceptible to air pollution due to reduced lung function
Women are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution than men. Research has shown that the effects of air pollution are more dangerous in women than in men. This is partly due to certain chronic health conditions, including COPD and asthma, being more common in women. Exposure to environmental and manmade pollutants may increase the risk of developing these conditions or worsen the symptoms of pre-existing conditions.
Women are also more vulnerable to other forms of emission, such as transport emissions, due to their reduced lung function. This is especially true for women with greater exposure to poor indoor air, which is often caused by the use of polluting cooking fuels. These women disproportionately experience respiratory health problems attributed to dual exposure to air pollutants from ambient and household toxins.
Indoor air pollution is a lethal issue that many grapple with throughout the year. In India, for example, a 2020 report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) found that 65% of the urban population used liquified petroleum gas (LPG) as their primary cooking fuel. While the coverage has increased, rural areas are still lagging in LPG usage despite subsidies and government incentives.
Time spent on various indoor activities and socioeconomic status are the two major indicators of exposure to household air pollution in both urban and rural contexts. Women typically spend more time indoors due to their daily activities, which include unpaid domestic work such as cooking, cleaning, and caregiver responsibilities. In India, nearly 92% of women aged 15 to 59 reported doing domestic chores at some time during the day, compared to only 27% of men. This gender gap in domestic work participation contributes to women's increased vulnerability to indoor air pollution.
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Women are disproportionately affected by climate change
Secondly, women are disproportionately affected by climate change due to their traditional gender roles. In many societies, women spend more time indoors doing unpaid domestic work, such as cooking, cleaning, and caregiver responsibilities. This increases their exposure to indoor air pollution, which has detrimental effects on their health. The use of polluting cooking fuels, such as wood, dung cake, and kerosene, contributes to household air pollution and disproportionately affects women. Additionally, women are also more vulnerable to other forms of emissions, such as transport emissions, due to their reduced lung function.
Thirdly, climate change impacts women's reproductive health. Exposure to high levels of air pollution has been linked to increased rates of reproductive issues in women, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and pregnancy complications. Air pollution and heat exposure are associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, and poorer maternal health. Heavy metals in breast milk have also been associated with abnormal immune function in newborns and allergy, neurodevelopment delay, and neuropsychiatric disorders later in life.
Finally, climate change disproportionately affects women socially and economically. Extreme weather conditions, such as storms, floods, and heatwaves, force thousands of people to leave their homes worldwide, and 80% of those displaced by climate change are women or girls. These women and girls face heightened risks of poverty, violence, or unintended pregnancies as they migrate to safer locations. A report launched at COP28 by UN Women also suggests that by 2050, climate change may push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty and cause 232 million to face food insecurity.
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Women are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their time spent on domestic chores
Women are more vulnerable to air pollution due to the time they spend on domestic chores, which increases their exposure to indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution is caused by the use of polluting cooking fuels, such as wood, dung cake, crop residue, and kerosene, which are often used due to their free availability and easy access, particularly in low-income households. Women typically spend more time indoors due to their daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and caregiver responsibilities, which increases their exposure to poor indoor air quality.
Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the effects of indoor air pollution, as it can affect fetal growth, resulting in premature birth, low birth weight, growth limitations, and cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, social factors such as poverty, gender invisibility, and inequality further increase the impact of household air pollution on women.
Women with greater exposure to poor indoor air are also more vulnerable to other forms of emission, such as transport emissions, because of their reduced lung function. As a result, women disproportionately experience respiratory health problems attributed to dual exposure to air pollutants from ambient and household toxins.
In some countries, women spend more time on unpaid domestic work, which includes cooking, cleaning, and caregiver responsibilities. This gender gap in domestic work participation contributes to women's increased exposure to household air pollution. Thus, time spent on indoor activities and socio-economic status are major indicators of exposure to household air pollution, both in urban and rural contexts.
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Women are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their higher rates of respiratory conditions
Biologically, women have smaller airways, greater airway reactivity, and higher deposition of fine particulate matter. These factors increase the risk of developing respiratory conditions or exacerbating pre-existing ones. For example, a 2022 study found that diesel exhaust caused changes in the makeup of blood components tied with inflammation, heart disease, and infection. This happened in both men and women, but the effect was much more pronounced among women.
Socio-culturally, women are disproportionately affected by indoor air pollution, particularly in low-income households. This is due to the use of polluting cooking fuels and women spending more time indoors performing unpaid domestic work, such as cooking and cleaning. Indoor air pollution is often aggravated by the use of fuels such as wood, dung cakes, crop residue, and kerosene for cooking and heating. These fuels are preferred in low-income households due to their free availability and easy access. As a result, women are disproportionately affected by respiratory health problems attributed to dual exposure to ambient and household toxins.
Additionally, social factors such as poverty, gender invisibility, and inequality further increase the impact of household air pollution on women. For example, in India, air pollution was responsible for 1.67 million deaths in 2019, with household air pollution accounting for 0.61 million fatalities, or 36% of all deaths reported. The effects of indoor air pollution are worse in the case of pregnant women, as air pollution affects fetal growth, resulting in premature birth, low birth weight, growth limitations, and cardiovascular disorders.
Furthermore, women with greater exposure to poor indoor air are also more vulnerable to other forms of emission, such as transport emissions, because of their reduced lung function. This is evident in developing countries, where women generally perform more cooking using polluting fuels, leading to elevated respiratory symptoms, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Overall, the combination of biological and socio-cultural factors contributes to women's increased vulnerability to air pollution due to their higher rates of respiratory conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Women and children are disproportionately affected by pollution due to a combination of biological, social, and economic factors.
Biologically, women are more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution, particularly respiratory issues, due to their reduced lung function. They are also more vulnerable to reproductive issues, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and pregnancy complications when exposed to high levels of air pollution.
Socially and economically, women and children are often responsible for domestic work and spend more time indoors, where they are exposed to indoor air pollution from cooking fuels and cleaning products. Additionally, they may have less access to healthcare and are more likely to live in poverty or in areas with higher pollution levels due to factors such as racism, class bias, and housing market dynamics.
Air pollution can have a detrimental impact on women's respiratory health, with studies showing stronger effects among women, particularly older women. Exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory infections, respiratory diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even premature death.
Indoor air pollution, particularly from the use of polluting cooking fuels, has a detrimental effect on the health of women and children who spend more time indoors. It can lead to respiratory issues such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer, especially in pregnant women, as it affects fetal growth and can result in premature birth, low birth weight, and cardiovascular disorders.
Social and economic inequality can exacerbate the impact of pollution on women and children. For example, people of color and low-income communities are often disproportionately exposed to higher levels of pollution due to factors such as residential segregation and proximity to pollution sources. Additionally, they may have limited access to healthcare and face greater health risks due to existing health conditions or behaviors.
Globally, there are numerous examples of the disproportionate impact of pollution on women and children. For instance, in India, air pollution was responsible for 1.67 million deaths in 2019, with household air pollution accounting for 0.61 million fatalities. Additionally, climate change-induced extreme weather conditions have forced thousands of women and girls to migrate, facing heightened risks of poverty, violence, and unintended pregnancies.
