Harmful Hearths: Open-Fire Cooking Threatens Lives
“The most well-known causes of death in developing countries today include dangers such as unclean drinking water, malnutrition and HIV infection. Cooking, on the other hand, probably would not make the list of recognized killers. However, for the more than 3 billion people who stand over fires to cook every day, preparing food poses just such a life-threatening risk.”
The Problem: Traditional Cooking Methods Can Kill
Open fires and primitive cookstoves are fueled by solid materials, including coal and biomass (wood, dung and crop residue). These fuels release harmful particles into the air as they burn. When inhaled on a regular basis, these particles can cause diseases such as asthma, lung disease and pneumonia.”
Each year, an estimated 1.9 million people die from the most basic of food safety problems — the negative side effects of these traditional cooking methods. A majority of these deaths occur among women and children. Women in developing countries commonly spend large parts of their days over cooking fires, heating water and preparing family meals. These fires are often lit indoors, where the harmful particles they produce are trapped inside the home.”