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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 3 billion people today are exposed to smoke from the household combustion of solid fuels. While the household use of solid fuels has decreased over the last few decades, it remains a leading modifiable risk factor for the global burden of disease. This systematic review analyzed the impact of Household Air Pollution (HAP) on lung function in children (under 18 years of age), as this is the time period of accelerated growth rate until full skeletal maturity. Data from 11 published studies demonstrated that exposure to smoke from solid fuel was associated with a lower growth rate of several lung function indices (FVC, FEV1, FEF25–75) in children. However, there was no observed association between HAP and the FEV1/FVC ratio over time. Although the evidence suggests an inverse association between high exposure to HAP and lung function indices, there is a lack of longitudinal data describing this association. Therefore, precaution is needed to reduce the smoke exposure from solid fuel burning.

Air pollution is a leading modifiable risk factor for various cardio-respiratory outcomes globally, both for children and for adults. Children are particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution due to various physiological and behavioural factors. Children are at a higher risk of outcomes such as acute respiratory infections, asthma and decreased lung function due to air pollution exposure; the risk varies in different geographical regions, depending on the source of air pollution, duration of exposures and concentration. Prenatal exposure to air pollution may also contribute to adverse respiratory outcomes later in life.

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