Health authorities in Sri Lanka have identified indoor air pollution from traditional cooking methods as a significant factor driving increased lung cancer cases among women, with poorly ventilated kitchens posing greater health risks than outdoor air pollution.
Lung cancer diagnoses among Sri Lankan women are increasing at a notable rate, according to the Ministry of Health, which attributes the trend primarily to indoor air pollution generated by conventional cooking practices. Dr. Chandani Vithana, director of the Environmental Health and Occupational Health Unit, emphasized that while food safety and water quality receive considerable public focus, the health hazards of contaminated indoor air remain underappreciated despite representing a serious public health concern both globally and within Sri Lanka.
The scale of the problem extends beyond local concerns. Globally, air pollution contributes to approximately seven to eight million premature deaths annually, while Sri Lanka records roughly 7,000 premature deaths each year from air pollution-related causes. Health officials stress that indoor air pollution proves particularly hazardous, often reaching concentrations several times higher than outdoor pollution levels. Dr. Vithana explained that exposure to airborne pollutants and particulates is associated with asthma, chronic respiratory conditions, lung disease, lung cancer, cardiac diseases, heart attacks and strokes.
Many Sri Lankan households continue using firewood stoves in enclosed kitchens with inadequate ventilation, releasing harmful gases and fine particles that accumulate indoors and penetrate deep into the lungs. These pollutants can even enter the bloodstream, elevating risks of severe chronic health complications. Additionally, kerosene stoves used in enclosed spaces discharge hazardous substances including aromatic hydrocarbons classified as known carcinogens that increase cancer risk significantly.
Historically, lung cancer predominantly affected male smokers in Sri Lanka. However, recent patterns show a marked rise in female cases, which health experts link to sustained exposure to kitchen smoke in poorly ventilated spaces. The Health Ministry is now urging households to enhance kitchen ventilation, minimize smoke exposure and discontinue kerosene stove use in enclosed environments.
