Why Pulmonologists Warn Against Exposing Children to Firewood Smoke

In order to shield kids from acquiring long-term non-communicable ailments like asthma, pneumonia, and various allergies, pulmonologists have advised caregivers to ensure their children stay clear of wood-fired flames.

Experts highlighted that breathing in smoke from burning wood can harm children's growing lungs, reduce their immunity, and result in chronic respiratory diseases.

Their alert follows closely after Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated recently that more than 80,000 Nigerian women perish each year due to fumes from firewood and conventional cookstoves.

In addition, in January, the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adeshina, stated that approximately 600,000 women and children in Africa perish annually due to the use of firewood and charcoal for cooking.

In the meantime, according to the World Health Organization, woodsmoke ranks as the third leading cause of death among women and children in Nigeria.

The health authority also reported that 93,300 fatalities resulting from inhaling smoke from conventional biomass stoves happen in Nigeria.

The research also shows that the ease of access and lower cost of firewood, coupled with expensive electricity rates and increasing prices for liquefied petroleum gas, contribute to why numerous households continue to rely on firewood and charcoal.

According to a 2024 report from the National Bureau of Statistics, 67.8 percent of Nigerian homes rely on firewood for their energy needs.

The report also highlighted that one out of every five homes relied on charcoal, while 19.4 percent utilized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

It has been noted that the increasing cost of cooking gas is causing some families to revert to using firewood instead.

PUNCH Healthwise Reports indicate that the cost of cooking gas increased by 114 percent over a period of 16 months.

Discussing the risks associated with firewood smoke for children, pediatric pulmonologist Peter Ubuane cautioned that using wood for cooking generates significant amounts of hazardous airborne contaminants that can jeopardize human well-being.

He mentioned that firewood smoke poses greater risks for children due to their still-developing lungs, noting that breathing in these fine particles can result in respiratory issues like pneumonia.

The doctor added, "Using wood fires for cooking produces significant amounts of dangerous airborne contaminants that can harm our well-being, particularly affecting the developing lungs of children. These hazardous materials consist of fine particulates—tiny specks small enough not to be seen by the naked eye yet capable of being drawn deep into the respiratory system and absorbed into the bloodstream."

“In the lungs, they cause various degrees of immediate and long-term harm. These particles are known to make children more susceptible to lung infections such as pneumonia because they weaken the natural defences along the respiratory tract thus making it easier for germs like bacteria and viruses to overwhelm these defences and cause infections.”

The pulmonologist additionally clarified that children who have preexisting asthma are more prone to experiencing recurrent asthma episodes when they come into contact with smoke from burning wood.

Ubuane added, "These risks also heighten the likelihood of children suffering from long-term non-communicable ailments such as asthma and allergies. For kids who already suffer from asthma and encounter wood-fired cooking, managing their condition becomes significantly harder, leading to more severe asthma episodes. This can result in undesirable outcomes including missed schooling days and emotional well-being issues."

The pediatrician further observed that children, adults, and even unborn fetuses were vulnerable to respiratory illnesses due to exposure to carbon monoxide released when burning wood.

He stated, “Another significant emission during wood-fired cooking is carbon monoxide, which poses risks to the respiratory system and can elevate the likelihood of lung ailments such as asthma. Alongside this compound, various other hazardous emissions produced by burning wood cause multiple detrimental impacts on anyone inhaling these fumes—be they adults, children, or fetuses.”

A pediatric health specialist promoted the adoption of cleaner fuel alternatives like cooking gas and electricity, cautioning that individuals dependent on unclean burning fuels have an increased likelihood of experiencing prolonged adverse health effects.

In homes where firewood remained the primary fuel source, the pulmonologist recommended conducting cooking activities outdoors to reduce exposure to hazardous fumes.

Additionally, Dr. Temitope Ayanda-Fapohunda, a senior registrar in pulmonology, stated that the fumes emitted from burning wood have been associated with respiratory illnesses in both adults and children.

She pointed out that the emissions were especially detrimental to children because they caused irritation in the air passages and might hinder lung growth.

They have been linked to respiratory illnesses in adults and especially in children. These emissions irritate the airways. Since children’s lungs are still developing, exposure to such detrimental biomass smoke can affect this developmental process. Consequently, it might hinder their lungs from achieving optimal growth due to the adverse effects of these toxic fumes.

At the same time, this might raise their chances of getting infections in their airways and lungs since these gases can have adverse impacts on the ability of the lungs and airways to defend against harmful microbes.

"So these children might begin experiencing more frequent infections, placing a financial strain on their families due to treatment costs and missed schooling when they fall ill. This situation can negatively impact their academic progress and potentially lead to cognitive impairments," according to Ayanda-Fapohunda.

The pulmonologist cautioned that kids who come into contact with firewood smoke face an increased likelihood of contracting allergic airway conditions, notably asthma. They might also encounter restricted development of their lungs both in size and efficiency.

She encouraged families continuing to use firewood to switch to more environmentally friendly cooking techniques.

For households that cannot move away from using firewood, she suggested reducing children’s exposure by making sure cooking takes place in properly ventilated spaces or ideally outside.

Ayanda-Fapohunda recommended, "Children who experience prolonged exposure to firewood smoke should immediately visit a healthcare center when they exhibit any issues or signs of discomfort. They would gain valuable insights from conducting lung capacity assessments to evaluate their respiratory system performance and track any changes over time. Even without noticeable symptoms, such evaluations might reveal underlying impairments in lung functionality. This information can help encourage parents to explore safer alternatives for household cooking."

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