A recent study published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science examines the level of exposure to particulate matter (PM) in two types of indoor fireplaces and their association with outdoor temperatures. Study: Lifting the unseen smokescreen on indoor air quality due to amenity indoor fireplaces in South African homes. Image Credit: thala bhula / Shutterstock.
com The health effects of household air pollution The World Health Organization (WHO) defines prolonged exposure to PM 2.5 micrometers (μm) in size or less (PM 2.5 ) at levels over 15 μg/m 3 for more than three days each year as being detrimental to health and development.
Within Africa, the domestic burning of wood, coal, and gas for cooking or heating is the main contributor to ambient PM. In fact, up to 34% and 20% of ambient PM 2.5 air pollution can be attributed to domestic fuel burning in Africa and worldwide, respectively.
Household air pollution (HAP) is a major cause of illness worldwide, as exposure increases the risk of diabetes, cancer, acute respiratory infections, strokes, cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, and death due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In 2019 alone, HAP exposure is estimated to have contributed to over 2.3 million deaths, which comprised 4% of all deaths.
In South Africa, 5,590 deaths were directly attributed to HAP from cooking fuel use. Fuel sources in South Africa HAP from fuel burning varies with the fuel type. The “energy ladder” theory indicates tha.