Household Air Pollution

Abstract

Abstract Household air pollution is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the developing world. Smoke from cook stoves that burn biomass fuels—wood, charcoal, dung, and crop residues—is the major source of household air pollution. This smoke contains high levels of respirable suspended particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Billions of people use biomass-fueled cook stoves in their homes worldwide for heating, lighting, and cooking. In many populations, exposures to major pollutants from indoor sources can be higher than exposures to pollutants from outdoor sources.

Topics & Concepts