Royal Hospital issues advisory on indoor air pollution

Muscat: The Royal Hospital has issued an advisory on indoor air pollution.

In the advisory, the Royal Hospital said: “Indoor air pollution is no less dangerous than outdoors pollution. According to studies, air quality is a cause for concern because of harmful particles in the air, such as germs, fungi, and unpleasant odours. Therefore, the use of chemicals and good ventilation must be rationalised and implemented to maintain the health and comfort of the family.”

Worldwide, annually 3.2 million premature deaths are registered due to indoor air pollution. This kind of pollution is caused by cooking with open flames, inefficient stoves, smoking inside the home, or excessive use of incense indoors.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution causes 32% of deaths due to heart disease, 23% of deaths due to stroke, and 21% of deaths due to a lower respiratory infection. 19% of deaths are due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and 6% of deaths occur due to lung cancer. Furthermore, 50% of deaths of children under the age of five are due to smoke inhalation.

The main ways to avoid home air pollution according to the World Health Organization are:

- Expanding the use of clean fuels.

- Using technology to reduce air pollution.

- Use of solar energy, electricity, biogas, liquefied petroleum, natural gas and alcohol fuels.

- Use of biomass stoves.