Worldwide, more than three billion individuals depend on traditional solid fuels like wood and coal for their cooking and heating needs. This leads to significant household air pollution and serious public health issues.
Although the shift to clean energy sources faces challenges related to accessibility and cost—particularly for low-income, rural communities—alternative approaches such as changes in kitchen design and the implementation of ventilation fans could help lower exposure to pollutants.
A new study by researchers from Peking University and Zhejiang University of Technology highlights the health advantages of kitchen upgrades as an affordable method to reduce household air pollution in rural China. Researchers discovered that basic kitchen enhancements, like creating separate cooking spaces and adding ventilation fans, could greatly lower exposure to dangerous pollutants.
The investigation examined kitchen environments in rural China. Although 82% of rural homes have distinct kitchen areas, only 34% utilize mechanical ventilation. The adoption of ventilation fans was associated with greater income and higher education levels, suggesting that cost and awareness are major obstacles.
The researchers projected the widespread adoption of separated kitchens and mechanical ventilation and evaluated changes in human exposure to PM2.5 under different kitchen renovation scenarios by conducting a nationwide survey of household kitchen characteristics in rural China.
The team found that although 82% of rural households have kitchens separated from other rooms, only 34% use mechanical ventilation. The adoption of ventilation fans is significantly influenced by income and education levels. They also estimate that widespread implementation of ventilation fans and separated kitchen designs could prevent approximately 67400 premature deaths annually. This equates to a health benefit valued at $19 billion annually, significantly surpassing the $12 billion renovation expenses.
“Kitchen renovation offers an affordable solution to reduce the health impacts of household air pollution in rural areas, particularly where transitioning to cleaner energy is challenging,” said Dr. Guofeng Shen, lead researcher from Peking University. “Our findings highlight the need for government initiatives to promote ventilation systems and improve kitchen design, especially in low-income communities.”
Journal reference:
- Yatai Men, Ke Jiang, Yaoji Li, Ran Xing, Zhihan Luo, Tianyao Huang, Shuyu Ou’yang, Wei Du, Yuanchen Chen, Guofeng Shen. Mitigating household air pollution exposure through kitchen renovation. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 2025; DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100501