Question

Lila resides in a remote village with her family and relies on fuelwood for cooking. Identify any three consequences of utilizing fuelwood as a cooking fuel.

Answer 1

• Irritation in Throat and Redness of Eyes: Prolonged exposure to smoke from burning fuelwood releases harmful particles and gases. These pollutants can irritate the throat and eyes, leading to discomfort, coughing, and redness in the eyes due to constant exposure to the smoke.
• Respiratory Tract Infection: Inhalation of smoke from fuelwood contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and toxic gases like carbon monoxide. These pollutants can penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing the risk of respiratory infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Early Aging: Constant exposure to the harmful pollutants in fuelwood smoke can damage the skin and body over time. The oxidative stress caused by these pollutants accelerates skin aging, leading to wrinkles and premature aging, while long-term health effects may weaken the body overall.