New health evidence makes the case for clean fuels in African homes and schools

Researchers from the University of Liverpool have carried out the first comprehensive analysis of the substantial health gains that can be made by replacing African homes from polluting fuels with cleaner fuels such as bottled gas (liquefied petroleum gas, LPG). Elements of this global synthesis have critical energy and health policy implications for the region.

In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 80% of the population depends on solid fuels (firewood, charcoal) and kerosene for cooking, heating and lighting. However, pollution linked to the combustion of these fuels is responsible for more than 680,000 premature deaths each year in the region.

The paper demonstrates a significantly lower risk of developing a range of health problems when switching from polluting solid fuels and kerosene to using clean gases for cooking or heating. Published in Lancet Respiratory MedicineThe paper was led by Dr Elisa Puzzolo, Principal Investigator, and Professor Dan Pope, Professor of Global Public Health at the University of Liverpool and Directors of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on CLEAN-Air (Africa ).

This article presents the latest research carried out by the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on CLEAN-Air (Africa) to address the major global health challenge posed by household air pollution. CLEAN-Air (Africa) is a partnership of public health experts from academic, research and clinical institutions in the United Kingdom, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. Working with governments in each country, the collaboration provides evidence-based data to help inform policies aimed at extending clean cooking to households and schools.

This is the first systematic review including meta-analyses that comprehensively assessed all health effects related to the use of gaseous fuels (natural gas, LPG and biogas), compared to polluting fuels and electricity, for cooking and heating households worldwide. Previous systematic reviews have been limited due to lack of evidence, reliance on historical data, and/or focus on single health outcomes or specific energy uses.

Although the study identifies a small increase in risk from using gas fuels compared to electricity for childhood asthma, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the substantial health gain from switching from polluting solid fuels and kerosene to LPG is essential.

As the International Energy Agency noted in a recent report, LPG is the most realistic option for rapidly transitioning to clean cooking in much of sub-Saharan Africa and is essential for policy in clean energy in the region, just six years away from the sustainable development goal. Goal 7 (universal access to energy).

Dr Elisa Puzzolo said: “Exposure to household air pollution from polluting household fuels represents a significant global public health burden. Switching from polluting domestic fuels to gaseous domestic fuels will likely reduce health risks and associated morbidity and mortality. By summarizing the potential positive and negative health impacts of household gas/alcohol fuel use, this article provides important contemporary evidence to inform national clean energy policies.

“Unfortunately, Western concerns over the promotion of fossil fuels such as LPG are holding back investment in large-scale clean cooking in the Global South. In collaboration with the Stockholm Environmental Institute and international leaders in climate modeling climate impact, CLEAN-Air (Africa) also released seminal research demonstrating that the substantial health gains from the global use of LPG for clean cooking have no impact on the climate.

“Furthermore, the prospects of producing fully renewable BioLPG from municipal solid waste in African cities are becoming a reality.”