The World Health Organization estimates that about 4 million indoor air pollution deaths are mostly due to exposure from which activity in the developing world?

The World Health Organization estimates that about 4 million indoor air pollution deaths are mostly due to exposure from which activity in the developing world?

• A. Tobacco smoke indoors
• B. Outdoor air pollution in cities
• C. Cooking with solid fuels in the developing world
• D. Industrial emissions in factories

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that indoor air pollution in the developing world largely comes from burning solid fuels for daily cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes. When people burn wood, coal, dung, or crop residues inside or near living spaces, it releases a lot of fine particulate matter and other pollutants directly into the breathing air. Because ventilation is limited and exposure is prolonged—especially for women and young children who spend a lot of time near the stove—these pollutants cause a high burden of disease, including respiratory infections and other serious illnesses. That combination of widespread use of inefficient stoves and dense indoor smoke explains why about 4 million indoor air pollution deaths are tied to this activity. Other options—like outdoor city pollution, industrial emissions, or tobacco smoke indoors—are important health risks, but the largest contributor to indoor air–related deaths in developing regions is cooking with solid fuels.

The main idea is that indoor air pollution in the developing world largely comes from burning solid fuels for daily cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes. When people burn wood, coal, dung, or crop residues inside or near living spaces, it releases a lot of fine particulate matter and other pollutants directly into the breathing air. Because ventilation is limited and exposure is prolonged—especially for women and young children who spend a lot of time near the stove—these pollutants cause a high burden of disease, including respiratory infections and other serious illnesses. That combination of widespread use of inefficient stoves and dense indoor smoke explains why about 4 million indoor air pollution deaths are tied to this activity. Other options—like outdoor city pollution, industrial emissions, or tobacco smoke indoors—are important health risks, but the largest contributor to indoor air–related deaths in developing regions is cooking with solid fuels.