Almost five percent of deaths and disease are caused by household air pollution in 21 mainly African countries, and could be easily prevented by switching fuels, the World Health Organisation said on April 30.
The health risks could be eliminated and some 1.5 million lives saved if people in the world's poorest countries were able to give up solid fuels, the WHO said in a statement.
Reliance on solid fuels and indoor air pollution is rated as one of the 10 most important threats to public health, causing pneumonia and crippling respiratory disease. About three billion people depend on wood, dung, crop residues and coal for cooking and heating.
"The prevention potential is enormous," said WHO Assistant Director-General Susanne Weber-Mosdorf.
"Solutions are available, and it is our international responsibility to promote the health and well-being of those affected, who are mostly women and children," she added. The WHO is calling for a shift towards cleaner and more efficient modern fuels, such as biogas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and kerosene as well as improved cooking stoves, and smoke hoods to cut indoor household pollution.
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