Biomass and health

Biomass smoke is the smoke produced by burning organic material, such as wood, charcoal, crop residues and animal wastes, and is a major source of air pollution, especially in rural areas where biomass is commonly used for cooking and heating. Studies have shown that the smoke generated by biomass burning has a diverse composition of gases and particulate matter including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, these same pollutants have the potential to cause a variety of adverse health effects including respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease and the development of cancer.