Indoor Air Purification and Residents’ Self-Rated Health: Evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey

Abstract

Indoor air pollution is injurious to human health, even worse than outdoor air pollution. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence using large samples in developing countries regarding whether indoor air purification can improve human health by reducing indoor air pollutants. Using the data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2015, this study analyzes the relationship between indoor air purification and residents’ self-rated health. We apply the generalized ordered logit model and find that indoor air purification has a significantly positive effect on residents’ self-rated health. This positive effect is limited to improving the probability of residents’ health level being rated “good”, and there is no significant movement between the two levels of “bad” and “fair”. The results also show that, as an important source of indoor air pollutants, solid fuels used in cooking significantly reduced residents’ self-rated health level. Additional results show the heterogeneity of the relationship between indoor air purification and resident health among groups with different characteristics. This study provides empirical evidence for further optimizing the indoor air environment.

The challenge of population aging for mitigating deaths from PM2.5 air pollution in China

“…For example, the U.S.A. and European Union countries have implemented public health awareness plans 10 to provide information on air pollution for older adults, encouraging them to reduce their activities in highly contaminated conditions. However, indoor air pollution also needs to be considered, as the average adult in China spends around 86% of their time indoors 38 . For example, Yun et al pointed out that indoor pollution caused by solid fuel use is far more serious than other activities, and promoting clean cooking and heating is an effective way to improve indoor air quality 37,38 .…”

“…However, indoor air pollution also needs to be considered, as the average adult in China spends around 86% of their time indoors 38 . For example, Yun et al pointed out that indoor pollution caused by solid fuel use is far more serious than other activities, and promoting clean cooking and heating is an effective way to improve indoor air quality 37,38 . Second, the government should improve health care by supporting additional investments in health care and adopting targeted measures to improve older adults' health care insurance and alleviate their economic burden 27 .…”

Assessment of health consequences of fossil fuel energy use in Osun state, Nigeria: burden and implications

“…The inefficient cooking methods of using fossil fuels or traditional energy led to high levels of household air pollution with a range of healthdamaging pollutants including small particles that penetrate deep into the lungs. Indoor air pollution can be more than 100 times the acceptable limit for fine particles in the environment [1,23]. Exposure is especially high among women and children who spend the greater part near domestic activities.…”

“…Energy is an important prerequisite of life and useful for a variety of things [1]. Despite the evolution of newer sources of energy including renewable energy among others, the use of fossil fuel also known as traditional energy persists in all continents of the world, especially in Africa and Asia.…”

“…Energy resources including fossil fuel energy provide significant benefits for human health. It also directly or indirectly impacts human health leading to premature death and ill health [1][2][3]. Air pollution from the complete and incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass fuels is by far the single major reason that energy resources negatively affect global health [3,4].…”