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Global network for the health effects of environmental air pollution

Boiling Point
Front cover of Boiling Point issue 40
Issue 40 (1998) Household energy and health
ArticleGlobal network for the health effects of environmental air pollution
AuthorDan Campbell, Mary Lamb


The Environmental Health Project (EHP) is a project which is actively engaged in examining environmentally related health problems. With support from the United States Agency for International Development, it addresses a wide range of preventative interventions at the household, community and institutional levels. To achieve the most significant health impacts, EHP focuses on the three main causes of childhood death in the developing world:
  • acute respiratory infections (ARI),
  • diarrhea
  • malaria

The Environmental Health Project has established the ARI network on the Internet as an interactive forum for dialogue and information exchange between individuals and organizations interested in indoor air pollution and the effects it has on people's health. Acute respiratory infections are the leading cause of illness and death in children under five in developing countries. Worldwide, over 4 million children die of ARI, primarily pneumonia, each year. There is growing evidence that indoor air pollution (IAP) is an important risk factor for ARI.

Indoor air pollution is also linked to chronic obstructive lung disease in adults and low birth weight in newborns. Indoor air pollution is caused primarily by smoke from heating and cooking fires, especially those that use biomass fuel or coal. Women and children are most severely affected. It is estimated that approximately one billion people, mostly women and children, are regularly exposed to damaging levels of domestic smoke.

Figure 1: ARI network Members by region
Figure 1: ARI network Members by region


Figure 1: ARI network Members by organisation type
Figure 1: ARI network Members by organisation type


The major goal of the network is to link the health and energy sectors involved in addressing issues surrounding indoor air pollution. The network seeks also to disseminate information and create awareness regarding the health effects of indoor smoke on women and children, and stimulate interest in interventions to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution, such as; improved stove programmes, improved housing, behavioural change, health education activities, research and policy initiatives.

Since its inception in September 1997, the ARI Network has generated considerable interest. As of December 1997, there were 96 members from 30 countries. Members' primary organizational affiliations and the geographic breakdown of where they hail from reflects the networks diversified and global character (see charts).

A recent survey of network members revealed that 90% of respondents had worked in countries where indoor air pollution was a problem. Respondents major interests concerned health, energy, research and policy issues. Specific topics of interest included the health impacts of indoor air pollution, improved stoves and housing, the environment, dangers of kerosene and carbon monoxide, urbanization, fuel conservation, women in development, behavioural change, and the measurement and effects of human exposure to pollutants.

The network has distributed 8 email newsletters since September which provided information on current activities of members, recent publications, etc. Past issues have included summaries of solar cooker projects in South Africa, a discussion and bibliography of the health and environmental impacts of kerosene use in stoves, etc.

The network also has available for distribution, and via the web site, an annotated bibliography on acute respiratory infections and indoor air pollution. This bibliography was complied by John McCracken and Kirk Smith for EHP, and contains 192 citations and/or abstracts.

Future plans for the network may include establishing a LIST-SERV, or electronic discussion list, which will enable members to discuss specific ARI topics and problems. The bibliography, network newsletters, directories, etc. are also currently available via the EHP web site at: http://www.access.digex.net/~ehp

[top] [end]Contents: Boiling Point 40: Household energy and health

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Household energy, smoke and health - Smoke from biomass and its effects on infants - Health risk caused by domestic smoke - Emissions from high altitude stoves - a case study in Nepal - Biomass smoke and ill-health in India - preliminary results from a national survey - Global network for the health effects of environmental air pollution - Fuels, stoves and indoor air pollution in Jaracuaro, Mexico - Redesign of liquified petroleum gas stove for the blind - How many of these improvements are in your stoves programme - Participatory Technology Development in stove manufacture - a case study - Renewable energy sources in Nigeria- Efficient household energy use in Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka - Research into cooking and heating applications of down-draught stoves - Comparing forestry wood species for the charcoal supply of Antananarivo city, Madagascar

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Pagename: GlobalNetworkForTheHealthEffectsOfEnvironmentalAirPollution @HEDON: GEGA