Doctor explains how dirty cooking fuels affect users

Morogoro. Despite extensive awareness campaigns on the health risks of using dirty cooking fuels, many households across the country continue to rely on firewood and charcoal.

Health experts warn that the dangers are often underestimated until patients’ conditions worsen, tests are carried out, and the real cause is discovered—sometimes too late—leading to chronic illness or even death.

A specialist in internal medicine at Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Hadija Bushahu, said smoke from firewood and charcoal poses severe risks, particularly when inhaled over long periods in poorly ventilated spaces.

“This can affect the respiratory system, the heart, blood vessels, the eyes, the skin, and even the reproductive system,” she explained.

According to Dr Bushahu, smoke from these fuels releases carbon monoxide which, when inhaled over time, damages the lungs. Early symptoms include chest tightness and difficulty in breathing, which can worsen to the point where patients depend on oxygen cylinders at home or in hospital.

She further explained that prolonged exposure hardens and narrows blood vessels, causing high blood pressure.

“If left untreated, this can lead to stroke, paralysis, memory loss, or speech problems. In severe cases, sudden cardiac arrest may occur, which can be fatal without immediate medical intervention,” she said.

Other warning signs include body swelling and shortness of breath. Many patients, Dr Bushahu noted, only realise the connection between their illnesses and dirty fuels after undergoing medical tests, often in disbelief.

For pregnant women, prolonged exposure can cause premature births, low birth weight, or children with respiratory complications.

Eye irritation, redness, and tearing are also common, with a risk of vision loss. Ash from firewood and charcoal can burn the skin, causing rashes, roughness, and even cancer.

“Smoke from firewood and charcoal contains dangerous chemicals such as benzene, which causes leukaemia, and formaldehyde, which increases the risk of nasal and throat cancers,” she added. Many types of wood, she said, release toxic substances when burnt.

Beyond direct health impacts, the widespread use of dirty fuels contributes to deforestation.

“Without forests, oxygen levels decline, rainfall becomes scarce, food production drops, and communities face hunger, malnutrition, and stunted growth among children,” Dr Bushahu said.

She also pointed out the social risks, particularly gender-based violence, noting that: “Women fetching firewood in forests risk rape or even death. In urban areas, children sent to buy small amounts of charcoal at night are vulnerable to abuse.”

Dr Bushahu urged families to abandon firewood and charcoal in favour of cleaner options, such as gas and electricity. She challenged the common belief that food cooked on firewood tastes better, noting that top hotels use gas and electricity yet still attract customers who praise the quality of their meals.

First-hand accounts highlight the dangers

Mr Paulo Masunga, a charcoal maker and seller from Mkata village in Kilosa District, admitted that his work had exposed him to serious health problems.

He suffered from tuberculosis for over a year, though he eventually recovered after treatment. He also sustained a deep injury when he accidentally cut his leg with an axe while splitting logs for charcoal kilns.

“I spent a lot of money on treatment, and even today I sometimes feel sharp pain in my leg,” he said, showing his scar.

Similarly, Mariamu Mgonde, a cook at Morogoro Secondary School, described constant illness before her school switched to clean cooking fuels such as gas and briquettes. “I often suffered from chest congestion, persistent coughing, and eye irritation. Sometimes the firewood was wet, producing thick smoke that made cooking unbearable. I had to stay home sick many times,” she recalled.

Ms Mgonde thanked the government and the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) for supporting the school with a gas system, noting that: “Since we started using gas, I haven’t experienced chest problems again.”

According to the ministry of Energy, an estimated 33,000 people in Tanzania die every year from respiratory diseases caused by household air pollution, underscoring the urgent need to accelerate the shift to clean cooking energy.