"In a statement sent to DW News, the World Health Organization (WHO)stressed that cooking with biomass fuels is one of the "most overlooked public health emergencies" in Africa. "The smoke generated contains extremely high levels of fine particulate matter (PM.), carbon monoxide, black carbon, benzene, and other toxic pollutants that penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream," the WHO statement warned, adding that these exposures could lead to pneumonia in children, chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and preventable mortality."
"Zainab Salisu has been using firewood to cookher family's meals and run her bean cake small business for many years. The married mother of two who lives in Jahi, an upcoming suburb in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital, says the traditional style of cooking is what her "family can afford." However, she also admits that it's gradually affecting her health."
More than 160 million Nigerians rely on firewood, charcoal and other harmful biomass fuels for daily cooking and small businesses. Prolonged exposure to smoke causes immediate symptoms such as dizziness, choking and nausea and contributes to longer-term respiratory and cardiovascular illness. Combustion releases fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, black carbon, benzene and other toxic pollutants that penetrate deep into lungs and the bloodstream. These exposures increase risks of pneumonia in children, chronic disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes and preventable deaths. Harvesting firewood and producing charcoal drive deforestation and degrade the environment, undermining health, economic development and education.
Read at www.dw.com
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