The problem

Air pollution in its broadest sense refers to suspended particulate matter (dust, fumes, mist, and smoke), gaseous pollutants and odours [1]. A large proportion of air pollution worldwide is due to human activity, from combustion of fuels for transportation, energy generation, energy-intensive industrial operations, resource extraction and processing industries, and domestic cooking and heating, among others. Air pollution has many impacts, most importantly affecting human and animal health, buildings and materials, crops, and visibility.

In addressing the multiple burdens of air pollution, its related causes, and the solutions, a broad distinction is necessary between indoor and outdoor air pollution:

• Human-induced indoor air pollution is caused by the household use of biomass for cooking and heating, usually involving open fires or traditional stoves in conditions of low combustion efficiency and poor ventilation. Indoor air pollution also originates from other “modern” indoor air pollutants associated with industrialization, with a variety of suspected health effects such as sick-building syndrome. However, from a global burden of disease point of view, these modern indoor air pollutants are relatively minor; hence this study focuses on air pollution from solid fuel use. Owing to the close proximity and low or zero cost of biomass in most rural areas, indoor air pollution is more of an issue in rural than in urban areas, although in many urban areas coal and charcoal are common household energy sources.