Reducing smoke pollution

A woman cooks maize on a new cookstove in Nicaragua
FAO/20329 /J. Spaull

In developing countries, the traditional wood-fueled cookstove is at the heart of many rural households. However, constant exposure to excessive amounts of smoke can cause serious eye and lung diseases. New types of cookstoves can reduce the amount of smoke in the kitchen. In Nicaragua, for example, hand-built metal stoves with a flue to draw the smoke outside have been successfully introduced in some rural communities.

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More photos on improved cookstoves:
  • Myanmar: A ceramic cookstove saves fuel in Myanmar
  • India: Making chapatis on an improved cookstove in India
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