by Researchers from the University of Liverpool, in an effort to address the issue of household air pollution (HAP) in sub-Saharan Africa, have released new data to gain a better understanding of the problem. The study, led by the University’s NIHR Global Health Research Group, CLEAN-Air(Africa), was published in The Lancet Planetary Health and focused on evaluating the impact of cooking with polluting fuels, such as wood and charcoal, on exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), both of which can have a significant impact on health.
In sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 85% of people rely on polluting fuels for cooking and heating their homes, the fumes from cooking are responsible for over 680,000 premature deaths annually.
This comprehensive study, conducted across urbanizing communities in Central Cameroon, Ghana (Ashanti Region), and Western Kenya, is one of the largest in the region and highlights the complexity of air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa. The research provides insight into the geographical variations of HAP exposure and offers analysis on the range of sources of harmful pollution.
The findings of the study reveal that while switching to clean cooking fuels like LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) can potentially lower HAP exposure and benefit health, there are other factors that may hinder the effectiveness of clean cooking fuels in reducing exposure to PM2.5 and CO. Depending on the area, residents may still be exposed to localized levels of ambient air pollution from traffic or other outdoor sources, which could constitute a significant portion of their overall daily PM2.5 exposure.
The researchers hope that the detailed findings of this study will inform policymakers on how to allocate limited resources more efficiently to achieve the greatest global health benefits. Dr. Matthew Shupler, a Research Fellow from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Population Health, stated, “The public health benefits of transitioning from polluting cooking fuels to LPG for cooking in sub-Saharan Africa are evident from numerous measurement studies. But our study shows that the benefits in terms of PM2.5 exposure reductions from switching to clean cooking fuels vary substantially across communities due to differences in localized levels of ambient air pollution. Therefore, interventions are needed to mitigate both indoor and outdoor air pollution sources in areas adjacent to cities to achieve meaningful declines in PM2.5 exposure, especially as sub-Saharan Africa continues to urbanize.”
Dr. Bertrand Hugo Mbatchou Ngahane, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Douala in Cameroon and the local principal investigator of CLEAN-Air(Africa), added, “The levels of outdoor air pollution in sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in cities, are increasing as our economies continue to develop. An increase in urban population is likely to result in higher exposure to air pollution. Therefore, we need to collect more indoor and outdoor air pollution measurements in urban sub-Saharan Africa to better understand the sources that contribute the most to exposure in our rapidly changing communities. We are grateful for our collaboration with Professor Dan Pope and Dr. Elisa Puzzolo and will continue to expand our air pollution measurements in the coming years as part of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on CLEAN-Air(Africa).”
This paper is the latest contribution from the NIHR Global Health Research Group, CLEAN-Air(Africa), which was established to tackle the significant global health challenge posed by household air pollution. The collaboration brings together public health experts from academic, research, and clinical institutions in the U.K., Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. Working closely with governments in each country, the partnership provides evidence to help shape policies aimed at scaling up clean cooking solutions for households and schools.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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