The lesser-known air pollution menace

In addition to stubble burning, another major contributor to air pollution levels across North India is biomass burning for cooking. The use of traditional cookstoves (chulhas), that use solid biomass as fuels, increases direct exposure to household air pollution (HAP). According to World Health Organisation (WHO), 30 per cent of the ambient air pollution in India is attributable to HAP, thereby impacting both rural and urban homes.