WHO sounds alarm on domestic pollution

MANILA, Philippines - The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern over the ill effects on health of pollutants coming from domestic stoves, space heaters and fuel-based lamps, saying that 4.3 million people die annually from household air pollution.

To reduce health damage from indoor air pollution, the DOH has underscored the dangers of burning fuels like unprocessed coal and kerosene at home, and set targets for reducing emissions of health-damaging pollutants from domestic stoves, space heaters and fuel-based lamps.

The “WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion” emphasize the need to improve access to cleaner home energy sources such as liquefied petroleum gas, biogas, natural gas and ethanol, or electricity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

“These new guidelines come after WHO findings earlier this year revealed that more than seven million people – one in eight of total global deaths – are due to indoor or outdoor air pollution exposure,” WHO said in a statement.

It is estimated that some 4.3 million people worldwide die every year from household air pollution emitted by rudimentary biomass and coal cook stoves.

“Ensuring cleaner air in and around the home is fundamental to reducing the burden of disease from air pollution, especially in low- and middle-income countries,” noted Maria Neira, WHO director for public health, environmental and social determinants of health.

 The new WHO guidelines, Neira said, are aimed “to help countries introduce cleaner technologies, improve air quality in poor households, reduce pollution-related diseases and save lives.”

Nearly 3 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting.

Millions of people die each year as a result of household air pollution; 34 percent due to stroke, 26 percent to ischaemic heart disease, 22 percent to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 12 percent to childhood pneumonia and six percent to lung cancer.

These diseases are primarily caused by high levels of fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide released by the burning of solid fuels such as wood, coal, animal dung, crop waste and charcoal in inefficient stoves, space heaters, or lamps.

The guidelines include emissions targets for different kinds of domestic appliances, for both carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter.

The targets are the result of years of review of the health impacts of household air pollution emissions and careful examination of the levels by which emissions would have to be reduced in order to meet WHO guidelines for air quality.

“If the new emission targets are met, then some 90 percent of homes globally will meet WHO’s air quality standards,” Neira added.