Worldwide, 3.2 million deaths a year are caused by indoor air pollution
About 3.2 million people die worldwide each year from cooking and other household air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) published such information in a report on December 24, 2023.
The UN body summarized in the report that about 2.3 billion people worldwide still cook using solid fuels (such as wood, crop waste, charcoal, coal, and dung) and kerosene in open spaces or on unsafe stoves.
Most of them are poor and live in low and middle-income countries. There is a large disparity between urban and rural areas in terms of eco-friendly cooking alternatives.
In 2021, only 14 percent of people in urban areas depended on polluting fuels and technologies, compared to 49 percent of the global rural population.
Indoor air pollution results from the use of unsafe, polluting fuels and technologies in and around the home. These pollutions are very harmful to health.
These include tiny particles of pollutants, which penetrate deep into the lungs and the bloodstream. In homes that are not properly ventilated, fine particulate matter levels in smoke can be 100 times higher than acceptable levels.
Women and children are particularly affected, as they spend most of their time in or around the household. Besides, relying on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking consumes extra time.
Women and children are particularly affected, as they spend most of their time in or around the home. Besides, relying on polluting fuels and technology for cooking consumes extra time.
Women and children are particularly affected, as they spend most of their time in or around the home. Besides, relying on polluting fuels and technology for cooking takes extra time.
Exposure to household air pollution nearly doubles the risk of LRI in childhood and accounts for 44 percent of all deaths from pneumonia in children under 5 years of age.
In addition, household air pollution increases the risk of acute respiratory infections in adults and is responsible for 22 percent of adult deaths from pneumonia.
Breathing in household air pollution almost doubles the chance of getting a lower respiratory infection (LRI) as a child and is responsible for 44% of all deaths from pneumonia in children under 5 years old.
In addition, household air pollution increases the risk of acute respiratory infections in adults and is responsible for 22 percent of adult deaths from pneumonia.
Household air pollution is responsible for the loss of an estimated 86 million healthy lives in 2019, with the biggest victims being women living in low- and middle-income countries.
Inhalation of particulate matter (soot) from indoor air pollution accounts for nearly half of all deaths from respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age.
In addition, there is evidence of a link between household air pollution and low birth weight, tuberculosis, cataracts, and nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers.
