Solid biomass fuel: indoor air pollution and health effects.

ndoor air pollution in developing world from bio-mass smoke is considered to be a significant source of public health hazard, particularly to the poor and vulnerable women and children. About 50 % of the world's population is estimated to use solid bio-fuels like animal dung, crop residues, wood and coal for cooking daily meals and heating homes. Exposure from bio-mass smoke is estimated to cause a global death toll of 2.5 million every year equivalent to 4 to 5 % of total global deaths. In fact, the emerging data from recent studies indicate that risk-wise, it ranks only below malnutrition and poor quality of water / sanitation. However, health hazards of housewives have been traditionally underestimated in the developing countries. It is considered as a social responsibility of the women. The work of housewives can be categorised as hazardous occupation as they might be exposed to volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons everyday. There are evidences that indoor air pollution may increase the risk of respiratory tract infections and lung cancer among housewives. The census 2001 report In Nepal shows that 80 % of households depend upon solid bio-fuels for domestic uses. Total death from pneumonia alone is reported to be 4429 during the last 12 months preceding 2001 census (4.14 % of the total deaths). Similarly, the total deaths from asthma / bronchitis are reported to be 7170 (6.71% of the total deaths). According to Nepal Demography and Health survey, 2001, the prevalence of Acute Respiratory Infection for children below 5 years old is found to be 23 %. The below 5 years population is 12.1 % of the total population. A national level study done in Nepal1 showed that indoor air pollution was found to be the highest in kitchens having traditional clay stoves and using solid biomass fuels (PM10 level 2418 µg/m3) compared to kitchens using cleaner fuels (PM10 level 792 µg/m3). The kitchens using improved stoves (traditional clay stoves constructed with some changes in geometrics with vents) and biogas fuel looked cleaner compared to those using traditional ones. The health responses recorded for all the respondents exposed to various levels of indoor air pollution during cooking time seemed to support fully with the state of exposure conditions to which each group of individuals is subjected. Statistically significant Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval was detected for chronic respiratory diseases among the biomass fuel users. Similarly, …