Does Use of Solid Cooking Fuels Increase Family Medical Expenses in China?

Boqiang Lin,Kai Wei

doi:10.3390/ijerph19031649

Abstract

China has tried to replace solid fuels with cleaner energy in households. The benefits of fuel switching need to be identified. This article shows that households using solid cooking fuels suffer heavier medical expenses than those using non-solid cooking fuels. After accounting for family characteristics, using solid fuels is associated with 1.4–1.9% increases in medical care. Through the analysis of the impact mechanism, we found that solid cooking fuels harm the health conditions of family members and increase the probability of illness, thereby increasing medical expenses, while the ratio of fuel fees does not change significantly if switching cooking fuels. Furthermore, we explored heterogeneity to better understand the underlying relationship. For urban and higher-educated families with house ownership, the impact of solid fuels on medical expenses was weaker compared to rural and lower-educated households without owned houses. Therefore, considering the costs and benefits, we recommend continuing the conversion from solid fuels to non-solid fuels. In the fuel transition process, it is beneficial to raise residents’ awareness and improve behavior to avoid indoor air pollution.

Highlights

Countries around the world have made considerable improvements in household energy supply during the past decades
In Method (i) of Table 4, it can be observed that after considering more robust methods, households using solid fuels still have a heavier burden on family medical expenses, and the estimated coefficients are 1.4–1.9%, which are consistent with the above results
This article uses micro-survey data to examine the relationship between solid fuel use and the burden of medical expenses

Summary

Introduction

Countries around the world have made considerable improvements in household energy supply during the past decades. There are still more than 2 billion people who do not have access to clean cooking facilities [1]. About 2.5 to 3 million people die prematurely due to indoor pollution, and the use of solid fuels is the main reason of household air pollution [2]. In developing countries, the problems caused by solid fuels have negative influences on the well-being of humans. Many people spend significant amounts of time collecting firewood, leaving little time for exercise or recreation. The use of firewood harms the health status of household residents, especially women and children, who spend most of their time indoors

Methods

Results

Conclusion