Comparative study on indoor air quality variation while burning different firewood species in Gatlang, Rasuwa, Nepal

Dahal, Anu; Parajuli, Indira

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-34150/v2

“…Residual variation in cooking exposures, possibly related to firewood type or moisture content, type of food cooked, or daily weather conditions, was unexplained by the current models. Observations in the village suggested a role for these factors in influencing cooking related PM 2.5 concentrations, in keeping with evidence from other studies 50 – 52 , but difficulties in quantification and sample size limitations precluded their incorporation in the analysis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Personal exposures to fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide in relation to cooking activities in rural Malawi

Saleh¹,

Sambakunsi²,

Makina³

et al. 2022

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Background: Air pollution is a major environmental risk factor for cardiorespiratory disease. Exposures to household air pollution from cooking and other activities, are particularly high in Southern Africa. Following an extended period of participant observation in a village in Malawi, we aimed to assess individuals’ exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) and to investigate the different sources of exposure, including different cooking methods. Methods: Adult residents of a village in Malawi wore personal PM2.5 and CO monitors for 24-48 hours, sampling every 1 (CO) or 2 minutes (PM2.5). Subsequent in-person interviews recorded potential exposure details over the time periods. We present means and interquartile ranges for overall exposures and summaries stratified by time and activity (exposure). We employed multivariate regression to further explore these characteristics, and Spearman rank correlation to examine the relationship between paired PM2.5 and CO exposures. Results: Twenty participants (17 female; median age 40 years, IQR: 37–56) provided 831 hours of paired PM2.5 and CO data. Concentrations of PM2.5 during combustion activity, usually cooking, far exceeded background levels (no combustion activity): 97.9μg/m3 (IQR: 22.9–482.0), vs 7.6μg/m3, IQR: 2.5–20.6 respectively. Background PM2.5 concentrations were higher during daytime hours (11.7μg/m3 [IQR: 5.2–30.0] vs 3.3μg/m3 at night [IQR: 0.7–8.2]). Highest exposures were influenced by cooking location but associated with charcoal use (for CO) and firewood on a three-stone fire (for PM2.5). Cooking-related exposures were higher in more ventilated places, such as outside the household or on a walled veranda, than during indoor cooking. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the value of combining personal PM2.5 exposure data with detailed contextual information for providing deeper insights into pollution sources and influences. The finding of similar/lower exposures during cooking in seemingly less-ventilated places should prompt a re-evaluation of proposed clean air interventions in these settings.

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“…Indoor air pollution poses a significant health risk. Incidences were prevalent among people in the Gasa district (91.5%), followed by Haa (89%) and Bumthang (87%), who are also highlanders, as recorded, 7 and 40% of the households in Thimphu still use firewood 8 . To further evaluate indoor pollution, the combustion by-products of widely used kerosene stoves, heaters, and lamps, aside from firewood alone, were found to be inevitable in the rural community of Bhutan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…6 The Population and Housing Census showed that the proportion of households using firewood for cooking in rural areas decreased from 56.6% in 2005 to 36.7% in 2017. 7 Although 99% of households in Bhutan have access to electricity, 33.3% of rural households currently use firewood as an energy source. Solid fuels, such as different types of firewood and other related biofuels, are mostly combusted in inefficient traditional mud stoves without smoke venting systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Air Quality among the Rural Community of Bhutan

Dendup

¹

2022

IJoPCCM

0

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Introduction: Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in Bhutan remains a concern, as firewood and biomass combustion are the fuels generally used for cooking and heating. The adverse impact of indoor air pollution (AIP) on health is inevitable and requires further evidence to be acquainted with strategic modifications. This study aimed to determine IAQ in the rural communities of Bhutan. Method: Air sampling equipment DUSTTRA DRX Aerosol Monitor was used to collect samples from 161 rural households with randomised sampling from February to June 2021. An hourly survey included data extraction regarding particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 ) and common health problems among household members. Results: IAQ worsened during the cooking hours, where PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 increased by 118%, 112.2%, and 111.6%, respectively. Overall, 77% of households used firewood for cooking, 96.3% used it for room heating, and 100% used fodder for cooking. The main source of higher indoor air pollution was associated with the combustion of sawdust, firewood, and biogas. Similarly, traditional mud stoves generated more IAP than gas and modified mud stoves. It is found that there is a significant association of longer hours of window-opening (p < 0.05) and more numbers of rooms (p < 0.001), with IAP. Common health-related complaints comprised eye irritation (22%), headache (22%), coughing (19%), and skin irritation (11%). Conclusion: This study recorded high concentrations of PM during biomass combustion in rural houses in Bhutan. The Study demonstrated the importance of modified stoves with efficient venting systems as alternatives to counter the long-term burden of IAP.

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Personal exposures to fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide in relation to cooking activities in rural Malawi

Saleh¹,

Sambakunsi²,

Makina³

et al. 2023

Wellcome Open Res

2

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Air pollution is a major environmental risk factor for cardiorespiratory disease. Exposures to household air pollution from cooking and other activities, are particularly high in Southern Africa. Following an extended period of participant observation in a village in Malawi, we aimed to assess individuals’ exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) and to investigate the different sources of exposure, including different cooking methods. Methods: Adult residents of a village in Malawi wore personal PM2.5 and CO monitors for 24-48 hours, sampling every 1 (CO) or 2 minutes (PM2.5). Subsequent in-person interviews recorded potential exposure details over the time periods. We present means and interquartile ranges for overall exposures and summaries stratified by time and activity (exposure). We employed multivariate regression to further explore these characteristics, and Spearman rank correlation to examine the relationship between paired PM2.5 and CO exposures. Results: Twenty participants (17 female; median age 40 years, IQR: 37–56) provided 831 hours of paired PM2.5 and CO data. Concentrations of PM2.5 during combustion activity, usually cooking, far exceeded background levels (no combustion activity): 97.9μg/m3 (IQR: 22.9–482.0), vs 7.6μg/m3, IQR: 2.5–20.6 respectively. Background PM2.5 concentrations were higher during daytime hours (11.7μg/m3 [IQR: 5.2–30.0] vs 3.3μg/m3 at night [IQR: 0.7–8.2]). Highest exposures were influenced by cooking location but associated with charcoal use (for CO) and firewood on a three-stone fire (for PM2.5). Cooking-related exposures were higher in more ventilated places, such as outside the household or on a walled veranda, than during indoor cooking. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the value of combining personal PM2.5 exposure data with detailed contextual information for providing deeper insights into pollution sources and influences. The finding of similar/lower exposures during cooking in seemingly less-ventilated places should prompt a re-evaluation of proposed clean air interventions in these settings.

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Comparative study on indoor air quality variation while burning different firewood species in Gatlang, Rasuwa, Nepal

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Personal exposures to fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide in relation to cooking activities in rural Malawi

Personal exposures to fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide in relation to cooking activities in rural Malawi

Indoor Air Quality among the Rural Community of Bhutan

Personal exposures to fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide in relation to cooking activities in rural Malawi

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