Indoor air pollution claims 4000 lives annually in Sri Lanka, said Emeritus Profession in Chemistry of the University of Peradeniya O. A. Illeperuma.

Speaking to the media recently, he said that Sri Lankans have not taken enough precautions against air pollution in general.

Illeperuma added that according to the WHO, 8 million lives are lost worldwide due to air pollution. Half this amount occurs due to indoor air pollution, he said.

Using wood as fuel for cooking, burning incense sticks and mosquito coils are some reasons for the poor indoor air quality in Sri Lankan homes, said Illeperuma. He said cooking using wood should be done at a place as open as possible, adding that around 300 types of minute particles are released by wood.