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The Lancet: One in three people worldwide breathes polluted air at home

Politiko 2025-03-19 14:34:38

About one in three people worldwide were exposed to polluted air at home within a year, according to new estimates. Indoor air pollution still kills millions of people each year, even though exposure levels are falling worldwide, a new study has found.

In 2021, indoor air pollution – which occurs when people cook over open fires or stoves fueled by kerosene, coal, wood, crop residues or animal manure – contributed to 3.1 million deaths worldwide, with most of the deaths in lower-income countries, according to the analysis published in the medical journal The Lancet.

Indoor air pollution contains tiny particles that can enter the bloodstream through the lungs. It is linked to a range of health issues, including lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), respiratory infections, cataracts and neonatal disorders.

Air pollution can also have deadly consequences for children, contributing to more than 500,000 deaths among children under the age of 5 in 2021, according to the study. The figure accounts for about 11% of all under-5 mortality.

"The high level of impact on children estimated in this study is a major cause for concern," the study authors said.

They added that the health effects can be "fatal and long-term and have not received adequate attention from researchers and policymakers."

Between 1990 and 2021, the proportion of people exposed to indoor air pollution from solid cooking fuels fell worldwide from 56.7% to 33.8%, the estimates show. But the actual number of people exposed fell by only 10% – or about 350 million people – to 2.67 billion people exposed in 2021.

This is due to population growth in countries like Sub-Saharan Africa, where 78.8% of people were exposed to air pollution at home from solid fuels for cooking, the study authors said.

Between 1990 and 2021, the number of deaths linked to pollution rose from 685,000 to 741,000 in the region. South Asia had the next highest rate, with 53.2% of people exposed in 2021. Meanwhile, in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the rate was 7.5%. In high-income countries, it was just 0.4%.

The researchers said the results underscore the importance of helping “resource-poor communities” transition to cleaner energy sources. This could include research and development for new technologies, subsidizing clean energy equipment, enforcing emissions limits, encouraging private sector investment and public awareness campaigns.

"Such initiatives are essential for mitigating health risks and promoting sustainable development, improving the quality of life and health outcomes for millions of people ," the study authors said. /Monitor