2025 Household Air Pollution Stats: Keep Your Kitchen Safe
Last Updated: 5/30/2025
Author: James Zhao, Sr. Tech Specialist & Alex Park, Product Specialist
Poor ventilation might not seem like a big issue, but the air inside your kitchen could be doing more harm than you realize. Household air pollution caused by cooking appliances is a hidden health hazard impacting millions of families daily.
In this article, we’ll break down the latest statistics on indoor air pollution, from global mortality rates to how much time you spend breathing indoor air. With insights from FOTILE, you’ll learn how to take simple steps to protect your loved ones and create a healthier home environment.
Healthy indoor air starts in the kitchen. FOTILE’s innovative appliances offer powerful suction and whisper-quiet ventilation to minimize cooking fumes, keeping your air clean and your home safe. Browse our electric ranges and range hoods to improve your indoor air quality today.
How many deaths are caused by household air pollution each year?
Each year, household air pollution is responsible for approximately 4 million deaths globally. The leading causes include prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and toxic gases released by cooking with polluting fuels like gas, wood, coal, or charcoal. Over time, inhaling these pollutants can lead to chronic respiratory diseases and cardiovascular issues.
How many people cook and heat their homes using open fire and polluting fuels?
An estimated 3 billion people still rely on open fires or fuels such as wood, charcoal, dung, and kerosene to cook meals or heat their homes. These fuels generate dense smoke and hazardous particles, contributing to dangerously high levels of indoor air pollution.
What percentage of global deaths are attributed to poor indoor air quality?
Roughly 4% of global deaths are linked to indoor air pollution. Most of these fatalities stem from long-term inhalation of toxins produced during indoor cooking, heating, or smoking, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
What percentage of the average American’s life is spent indoors?
The average American spends about 93% of their life indoors. If your kitchen lacks proper ventilation, cooking fumes can spread throughout your living space, increasing your exposure to household air pollution day after day.
How many people around the world cook using biomass fuel?
Globally, 2.3 billion people still cook using biomass fuels such as wood, animal dung, and crop waste. These materials release high levels of toxic smoke when burned, contributing to indoor and outdoor pollution. In enclosed spaces like kitchens or small homes, these emissions create severe indoor air pollution that puts the entire household at risk.
How much higher is the concentration of pollutants indoors versus outdoors?
The concentration of many air pollutants can be two to five times higher indoors than outside. Cooking, cleaning, and poor ventilation all trap harmful particles inside your home, impacting air quality.
What percentage of the world’s population still relies on pre-industrial fuels?
Approximately 40% of the global population still depends on pre-industrial fuels such as wood, coal, and animal waste for their household energy needs. These outdated fuel sources produce thick smoke, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), all of which contribute to indoor air pollution and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and respiratory infections.
How many deaths are caused by using combustible fuels for household energy?
In 2021 alone, 4.3 million deaths were linked to the use of combustible fuels like wood, kerosene, and charcoal for cooking and heating. These fuels release toxic emissions that linger in closed spaces, making household air pollution a silent killer.
Healthier Air Starts in the Kitchen—Make the Switch to Electric with FOTILE
If you’re looking to cut down household air pollution, your kitchen is the best place to start. FOTILE’s electric stoves and powerful range hoods reduce cooking fumes, improve ventilation, and keep your home’s air cleaner and safer.
Browse our electric ranges and range hoods to reduce indoor air pollution and enjoy a healthier home.
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FOTILE’s FreshBake electric range takes the guesswork out of cooking with precise temperature control, built-in convection, and steam-assisted baking that locks in flavor and moisture. Whether you're roasting a chicken to perfection or baking a soft, chewy loaf of bread, every dish comes out just right.
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