The government of the People's Republic of China has become increasingly concerned with its serious environmental problems over the past decade. One study suggests that as of the mid 1990's, urban air and water pollution alone cost the Chinese economy US $32.3 billion annually in premature deaths, morbidity, restricted activity, chronic bronchitis and other heath effects, which is equal to more than 9 percent of Gross National Product. 1 That study estimates that 110,000 premature deaths occur each year, primarily in rural areas, as a result of indoor airThe authors wish to thank the V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, the Harvard University Committee on the Environment, and the United States Department of Energy for their support of the research from which this article emerges.