Study finds indoor air pollution as leading risk for diseases
Public health expert Vikram Niranjan discussed findings from the study examining how exposure to household air pollution changed between 1990 and 2021. The researchers’ findings indicated that numerous households still face poor indoor air quality, posing serious global health implications.
Exposure to indoor air pollution can contribute to chronic diseases, impede children’s development and exacerbate social disparities. Household air pollution is also a leading risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections and lung cancer.
Reducing indoor air pollution can lead to overall better health, while failing to advance the adoption of cleaner household fuels will continue to disproportionately affect communities least equipped to manage it.
Niranjan noted that accelerating the transition from polluting energy sources such as gas, oil and coal to cleaner energy sources is vital to protecting community health. Better infrastructure and subsidies to lower the cost of clean fuels and stoves are also imperative.
