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Home About The Issues Indoor Air Pollution
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Indoor Air Pollution

27259287-3Approximately three billion people worldwide burn traditional biomass (e.g. wood, dung, crop residues) and coal indoors for home cooking and heating. The number of people using these fuels is expected to rise substantially by 2020. According to the World Health Organization, this widespread use results in the premature deaths of an estimated 1.6 million people each year from breathing elevated levels of indoor smoke, with women and children being most significantly affected.
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Indoor air pollution from household energy ranks as the fourth leading health risk in developing countries. Breathing elevated levels of smoke more than doubles a child's risk of serious respiratory infection and may also be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (e.g. stillbirth and low-weight babies)