Journal of Climate Change and Pollution

ABSTRACT

The continued dependence on firewood and other solid biomass fuels remains a major environmental and public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately 2.6 billion people globally rely on these traditional fuels for daily cooking, exposing themselves to high concentrations of toxic pollutants. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the smoke inhaled by women cooking with firewood in unventilated kitchens is equivalent to smoking 300–400 cigarettes a day. This paper explores the underlying causes, physiological effects, and environmental implications of household air pollution from biomass combustion. It further recommends sustainable, policy-driven interventions to promote clean cooking technologies, strengthen public health outcomes, and mitigate deforestation and climate change [1].

Keywords: Firewood; Household Air Pollution; Biomass Smoke; Deforestation; Public Health; Clean Energy Transition