Indoor Air Pollution in India: Determinants and Policies to Transition to Clean Energy Use

Yabei Zhang, University of Maryland
Douglas Barnes, World Bank Group
Mitali Sen, University of Maryland

In the developing world, women regularly cook meals over traditional stoves. The smoke emitted is made up of fine suspended particulate matter that settles deep within the lungs when inhaled. With every meal cooked, women and children are exposed to increasing degrees of indoor air pollution. Using the recently collected India Human Development Survey-2005, we first present the scope of the problem and examine the determinants of inter-fuel substitution for cooking. Assets level, urban location, and access to electricity are leading contributors to fuel switching. Second, using India Health, Environment and Economic Development Survey-2005, we examine the degree of indoor air pollution and identify its major determinants. Type of stove and its location in the house are important determinants of pollution. Finally, we assess the policy implications and discuss some successful energy sector reforms in other countries that help to mitigate the problem.