Air pollution causes millions of deaths worldwide, with many households in sub-Saharan Africa relying on polluting fuels for cooking. A study in Lusaka, Zambia, tested whether improved biomass cookstoves could reduce cooks’ exposure to harmful air pollutants compared to traditional charcoal stoves.

The results showed that improved biomass stoves did not significantly lower exposure, while electric stoves from outside the study’s cookstove intervention did reduce pollution exposure. Seasonal and neighbourhood factors also strongly affected exposure levels, suggesting that reducing cooking-related pollution alone isn’t enough. To improve health, policies should also address broader sources of urban outdoor air pollution.