The Disease Burden of Indoor Air Pollution From Solid Fuel Use in China

Solid fuels, such as coal, straw, and firewood are wildly used for cooking and heating in China, with the negative side effects of indoor air pollution and residential health problems. This article investigates the current and historical trend of China’s disease burden caused by indoor air pollution (IAP) at the provincial level. The Global Burden Disease data set and national/provincial yearbooks are used. The results show the following: (1) In recent years, the burden of disease caused by IAP is decreasing; (2) in all health aspects, eastern coastal regions performed better than inland regions; (3) health risk is extremely severe in Henan, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces; (4) IAP gives rise to serious diseases, including chronic obstructive respiratory diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. This article discusses the relevant causes and countermeasures.