Health and social impact of indoor air pollution

Abstract

Indoor air pollution from combustion of solid fuel used for cooking and heating is one of the 10 leading contributors to the global burden of disease. Three billion of the world’s population and up to 90% of rural households in developing countries and 78% of Sri Lankan households still rely on solid fuel for cooking. Out of the households that use solid fuel for cooking, about 65% cook inside the main households. Only 72% of such households have a chimney. Reported air quality levels in the majority of Sri Lankan households are several fold higher than the WHO guideline values. Infiltration of air pollutants from outdoors is a key source of indoor air pollution in urban settings especially if the households are close to industries and major roads. The evidence for indoor air pollution and acute respiratory infections in children and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic bronchitis in women is compelling, while effects on adverse pregnancy outcomes, low birth weight and infant neurodevelopment is growing.