Exposure to indoor air pollution from household energy use in rural China: The interactions of technology, behavior, and knowledge in health risk management

▪ Abstract Globally, almost three billion people rely on biomass (wood, charcoal, crop residues, and dung) and coal as their primary source of domestic energy. Exposure to indoor air pollution from the combustion of solid fuels is an important cause of disease and mortality in developing countries. Despite recent advances in estimating the health impacts of indoor smoke, there are limited studies targeted toward the design and implementation of effective intervention programs. We review the current knowledge of the relationship between indoor air pollution and disease, and of the assessment of interventions for reducing exposure and disease. This review takes an environmental health perspective and considers the details of both exposure and health effects that are needed for successful intervention strategies. In particular, we summarize the emerging understanding of the central role of household energy technology and day-to-day household activities in determining exposure to indoor smoke. We also identify knowledge gaps and detailed research questions that are essential in successful design and dissemination of preventive measures and policies. In addition to specific research recommendations based on the weight of recent studies, we conclude that research and development of effective interventions can benefit tremendously from integration of methods and analysis tools from a range of disciplines—from quantitative environmental science and engineering, to toxicology and epidemiology, to the social sciences.

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INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR FIREWOOD-INDUCED INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Air Pollution XXVII ◽

10.2495/air190181 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

KHOMOTSO SEMENYA ◽

FANNIE MACHETE

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Health Risk ◽

Environmental Health ◽

Health Risk Assessment ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Indoor Air Pollution ◽

Assessment Framework ◽

Environmental Health Risk

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Use of Biochar-Producing Gasifier Cookstove Improves Energy Use Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality in Rural Households

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12224285 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 4285

Author(s):

James K. Gitau ◽

Cecilia Sundberg ◽

Ruth Mendum ◽

Jane Mutune ◽

Mary Njenga

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Indoor Air Pollution ◽

Energy Use ◽

Fine Particulate Matter ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Open Fire ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Carbon Dioxide Co2

Biomass fuels dominate the household energy mix in sub-Saharan Africa. Much of it is used inefficiently in poorly ventilated kitchens resulting in indoor air pollution and consumption of large amounts of wood fuel. Micro-gasification cookstoves can improve fuel use efficiency and reduce indoor air pollution while producing char as a by-product. This study monitored real-time concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and amount of firewood used when households were cooking dinner. Twenty-five households used the gasifier cookstove to cook and five repeated the same test with three-stone open fire on a different date. With the gasifier, the average corresponding dinner time CO, CO2, and PM2.5 concentrations were reduced by 57%, 41%, and 79% respectively compared to three-stone open fire. The gasifier had average biomass-to-char conversion efficiency of 16.6%. If the produced char is used as fuel, households could save 32% of fuel compared to use of three-stone open fire and 18% when char is used as biochar, for instance. Adoption of the gasifier can help to reduce the need for firewood collection, hence reducing impacts on the environment while saving on the amount of time and money spent on cooking fuel.

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