Debates on air pollution have consistently marginalised discourse on indoor air pollution. With research indicating that a very large number of people spend more than 90 per cent of their time indoors, indoor air pollution could mean just as great a risk, if not greater, to health as air pollution outdoors. This is particularly true in the case of both rural and urban women, a large number of who spend a considerable amount of time in kitchens.

Kitchens are probably the most high-risk area in most homes. Depending on fuel type and burning conditions, combustion sources emit inorganic gases and particulates. They could also emit hydrocarbon gases, vapours and organic particles. Most liquid and solid fuels contain impurities or additives that could result in emissions of metals, mercaptans, sulphur oxides or particles as the fuels burn.

Gas stoves have been pushed as one of the cleanest fuels available today. My colleagues and I have had occasion to study the veracity of these claims. Gas stoves normally burn at a temperature in the range of 800