Indoor air pollution due to bad cooking routines. This is a crucial environmental health issue around the world because 50 percent of the population throughout the world uses biomass fuels for food preparation and heating in their homes. Consequently, air pollution indoors led to 1.6 million untimely deaths each year in expanding countries. In Nepal alone, 8700 deaths occur each year becoming the 4th foremost reason for death as recorded by the World Health Organization in 2016. Reports further stated that 2 million children below 5 years of pass away due to Respiratory Infection.
In Nepal, approximately 78% of families still relied on biomass fuel to cook food and heat their homes. Heating and cooking in an open fire or conventional furnace led to high concentrations of Indoor Air Pollution. The indoor smoke consists of high contaminants such as PM, CO, etc that severely cause damage to the health.
Kitchens that are poorly ventilated, goes beyond the standard limits, 100 times more than the acceptable concentration of the total suspended particles. Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD), and Tuberculosis are among the top 10 causes of death caused by IAP in the context of Nepal. Respiratory infections, difficulty of breathing, pulmonary disease, and tubercolosis are the top causes of deaths brought on by indoor air pollution.
Air Conditioning Units Can Contribute To Indoor Air Quality
Air conditioning units could play an important role in improving air quality indoors. That’s why it is important to keep it at its best shape by proper maintenance. An air conditioner that fuctions properly provides not only comfort during the warm weather. It also helps a lot to make air quality indoors better.
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) stated that poor indoor air quality can lead to serious health issues. This is especially true among our elders and children. And, of course, those who have compromised immune systems. They are very sensitive when exposed to pollutants, viruses, and infections.
To have better indoor air quality at homes or at work places, properly designed rooms with right ventilation are crucial as it is in improved fuel use and stoves.