Women in Kupang, Indonesia queue for hours to buy kerosene, which is only available once each week (Willow Paule/Kopernik)
Polish pharmacist Ignacy Lukasiewicz invented the modern kerosene lamp in 1853
Polish pharmacist Ignacy Lukasiewicz invented the modern kerosene lamp in 1853. But what would he think of this 19th century technology still being widely used today? Mitch Ryan imagines what Ignacy Lukasiewicz would say, in this fictional interview.
Ignacy Lukasiewicz is feeling miserable, which is not surprising. His groundbreaking invention, the kerosene lamp, is no longer revered as it used to be. Once considered one of the greatest pioneers in human history, Ignacy now lives every day like he is on trial. He sits there looking absently into the distance while playing with his straggly moustache. He looks remarkably good for his age, but he says sleepless nights are beginning to take their toll.
“My life’s work…what was it all for?” he says with a gloomy sigh as he ashes out his fifth cigarette of the hour.
“I FEEL ASHAMED AND CAN NO LONGER SLEEP. I JUST WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE. WHEN I INVENTED THE KEROSENE LAMP NO ONE KNEW OF ALL THE HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. IT WAS CELEBRATED AND I BECAME A LEGEND.”
WORSE THAN NICOTINE
But as time has passed we have began to see the horrible side effects of kerosene lamp use. The US Government’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) says that breathing in kerosene fumes long term can result in neurological problems such as blood clots, kidney damage and heart complications. Lukasiewicz says he now spends his time “educating people about the monster I created… we need to change people’s attitudes about the kerosene lamp”.
“THE KEROSENE LAMP IS HAVING A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WHERE IT IS STILL WIDELY USED BECAUSE ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION IS EITHER TOO COSTLY OR NOT AVAILABLE.”
“It is estimated that breathing kerosene fumes is equivalent to smoking two packets of cigarettes a day. What’s more frightening is that two thirds of adult females with lung cancer in these areas are non-smokers,” he says, shaking his head.
Ignacy says when he heard the news that kerosene is a huge economic strain on people’s lives and is a massive fire danger he became particularly depressed.
“I WAS SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT ONE KEROSENE LAMP CONSUMES 0.04 TO 0.06 LITRES PER HOUR, WHICH COSTS FAMILIES AT LEAST US$52/YEAR. AND IF A HOUSEHOLD NEEDS MORE THAN ONE KEROSENE LAMP, THIS COST CAN DOUBLE OR TRIPLE. THIS DRAINS MONEY AWAY FROM OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS SUCH AS FOOD AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS.”
He adds, “Kerosene lamps are extremely dangerous. In India, 2.5 million people suffer severe burns each year mostly due to overturned kerosene lamps. I was saddened to learn that 350,000 of those injured were children. ”
A HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL COST
Ignacy says we must change our attitudes to kerosene lamps because “our children’s future depends on it.” He says that not only is kerosene light poor and ineffective for children to study at night, but that green house gas emissions from kerosene use will have dire consequences for future generations.
“KEROSENE LAMPS WERE CHERISHED IN MY DAY, BUT WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THEY PRODUCE AN ESTIMATED 265 MILLION TONNES OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ANNUALLY FROM THEIR USE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.”
“MY CREATION BELONGS IN THE DUSTBIN OF HISTORY. WITH SIMPLE SOLAR LANTERNS BECOMING INCREASINGLY AFFORDABLE, IT IS TIME WE EMBRACED FUEL-EFFICIENT RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES.”
Kopernik is currently crowdfunding for our Wonder Women: East Flores program in Indonesia where we will assist 30 inspirational women to become micro-social entrepreneurs. These Wonder Women will connect solar lighting and other life-changing technologies with people who need it most, helping families to eliminate their use of toxic kerosene. Learn more on our website, and donate to this project here.
