Editorial: BIOMASS FUEL SMOKE: A SILENT KILLER

Solid fuels use is defined as the domestic combustion of organic materials such as animal dung, crop residues, wood and coal used for cooking, lighting and heating purposes. These sources include wood, dried twigs and grass, crop residues, and animal dung cakes, which collectively are called biomass fuels. Although in developed world these highly polluting fuel sources have been replaced with cleaner sources, such as liquified petroleum gas and electricity, it is estimated that still nearly 50% of all house-holds worldwide and 90% of all rural households continue to use biomass fuel as their main domestic source of energy. On a global scale, the household use of solid fuels is the most important source of indoor air pollution and the exposure to the by-products of the combustion of biomass fuels, particularly wood smoke, has been related to numerous respiratory problems, and increased mortality and burden of disease.