One-third of the world’s population – about 2.6 billion people – still do not have access to clean fuels for cooking and use, for example, plant-based fuels such as wood and charcoal. The WHO warns that polluted air is a major environmental health threat.
This was reported in a World Health Organization bulletin published Thursday. About 2.6 billion people cook food using polluting open fires or outdated stoves fueled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal manure and crop waste) or coal, according to the data.
In poorly ventilated dwellings, the level of fine particulate air pollution can be up to 100 times higher than the maximum allowable levels. Women and young children, who spend most of their time in the home, are particularly exposed.
Approximately 4 million people die prematurely each year from illnesses caused by indoor air pollution from inefficient solid fuel and kerosene stoves.
Indoor air pollution leads to the development of non-communicable diseases, including stroke, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
Almost half the deaths from pneumonia among children under 5 years of age are due to indoor air pollution from particulate matter or soot.
WHO helps countries deal with this problem and monitors statistics related to the use of polluting fuels. From 2010 to 2019, the rate of access to clean cooking technologies increased by one percent each year. The five low- and middle-income countries-Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan-have been the main gainers. In the remaining states in these groups, there was little change, especially in rural areas.
Amorphous carbon (fine soot) and methane produced by the combustion of fuels in low-efficiency furnaces are powerful drivers of climate change.
Many of the fuels and technologies used in the home for cooking, heating, and lighting are hazardous. For example, kerosene is a frequent cause of poisoning in children who inadvertently swallow the poisonous liquid. And in low- and middle-income countries, the fuels used by households for cooking, heating, or lighting account for a high proportion of severe burns and injuries.
By 2030, one-third of the world’s population – mostly in sub-Saharan Africa – is projected to still be using polluting fuels.