Cardiovascular effects of household air pollution on cardiovascular diseases incidence.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the largest number of inhabitants on the planet are concentrated. Air pollution inside and outside the home by microparticles 2 5 (PM2·5) has become an important risk factor for the presence of CVD and other chronic non-communicable diseases, particularly in LMICs. The use of solid fuels as an energy source for cooking food and heating inside the home has negative effects not only on human health but also on the health of the planet, as it contributes to deforestation and the consequent effect on climate change. In this narrative review we update how air pollution inside the home from cooking food with firewood and charcoal impacts the risk of CVD, the factors that determine the use of these polluting fuels, and the actions necessary for the massive transition toward the use of non-polluting energy, highlighting the development of university research to offer a stove that uses green hydrogen as a non-polluting energy source.