Health risks from the use of biomass

In Poor countries or underdeveloped is very common use of firewood, crop residues, charcoal, etc. for cooking and heating, as it is cheaper compared to other sources of energy.

According to organizations such as FAO and WHO, they estimate that biomass, especially firewood and charcoal, is used in millions of poor households around the world.

The use of these elements as fuels as stoves, stoves and other equipment are very precarious, so the combustion that occurs is incomplete and generates emissions of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, among others that seriously affect the health of people who are in the place.

Lack of ventilation and poor homes without sufficient infrastructure put people's health at risk as they are exposed to a contamination , which is important.

Pneumonia, respiratory tract infections in children is very common in households that use solid fuels or biomass and they produce thousands of deaths a year from this cause. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis and heart problems are also common in these types of environments. Other diseases and symptoms are associated with biomass pollution, although there is less information.

The use of biomass must be done safely so that it does not cause health problems.

The firewood must be correctly cut, allowed to dry, but also use suitable stoves and stoves that have chimneys and hoods so that the smoke does not remain inside the houses and does not contaminate it.

It is important to supply technology more modern to poor populations so that they can safely heat or cook using biomass.

The use of biomass is ancestral but today it is the poor who use it the most because it is the most accessible source they have, it is important to help prevent contamination and health problems from this cause.


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