Optimization of Household Ventilation with Improved Cookstove: An Amicable Approach to Strengthen Indoor Air Quality and Public Health

Abstract

Several research attempts were made but the World Health Organization’s (WHO) intermediate indoor environmental quality guidelines were not achieved targets by replacing traditional biomass chulhas with cleaner cookstoves in many parts of the world. Millions of deaths are still occurring due to uncomfortable indoor air, which is well recognized as one of the foremost causes of death reported in the recent estimates of the global burden of diseases. However, health benefits can be expected through the extensive use of improved cookstoves (ICSs) in households with the support of better ambient air quality. Optimization of indoor ventilation status may come out as a significant addition to ICSs in mitigating indoor air pollution exposure for better public health. It is worthwhile to note that the WHO recommends the reduction of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) exposure in the perspective of good public health. Uses of solid biomass cooking fuels have been steadily decreasing in developing countries for the last decade. In spite of that, almost 50 percent of the world population is still being exposed to the indoor air pollution produced by solid fuel burning. The main purpose of this paper is to review the existing scientific evidences concerning improved cookstoves with household ventilation and health improvement. Keeping the above facts in mind, current indoor air quality research should focus on stringent and periodic exposure assessment with modified ventilation and ICSs to improve public health and well-being.