Recorded presentation

Brenda L. Brown Doroski, Partnership for Clean Indoor Air, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (6609J), Washington, DC 20460, 202-343-9764, doroski.brenda@epa.gov

The World Health Organization attributes indoor smoke from solid fuels as the fourth leading risk factor for burden of disease in developing countries. Three billion people use biomass fuels and coal for home cooking and heating. This widespread use results in the premature deaths of an estimated two million people annually, mainly women and children.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other partners launched the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in September 2002. This Partnership brings together governments, industry, and non-governmental organizations to improve health, livelihood and quality of life by reducing exposure to indoor air pollution, primarily among women and children, from household energy use. Our goals are to increase the use of affordable, reliable, clean, safe, and efficient home cooking and heating practices.

We are supporting the direct exchange of experiences among household energy users, researchers, entrepreneurs, and project implementers; providing $1 million in assistance for pilot projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to demonstrate effective comprehensive approaches to implementing household energy projects; developing design and performance guidelines; institutionalizing harmonized health and exposure assessment protocols; and providing technical assistance in social marketing and market development.

Intended outcomes: increased knowledge of health impacts of indoor air pollution from household energy use and mitigation solutions; households using improved cooking/heating practices; new small businesses producing and marketing improved cooking technology; reduced exposure to indoor smoke; decreases in number or severity of adverse health effects; and improvement in quality of life indicators among the target populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the risks associated with elevated levels of indoor smoke from household energy use.
• Describe the benefits of improved health, livelihood and quality of life by reducing exposure to indoor air pollution, primarily among women and children, from household energy use.
• Develop a local action plan to increase the use of clean, reliable, affordable, efficient, and safe home cooking and heating practices, and reduce the burden of disease in developing countries.

Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Partnerships

Related Web page: www.epa/iaq

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation