Emission factors of fine particulate matter, organic and elemental carbon, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide for four solid fuels commonly used in residential heating by the U.S. Navajo Nation

Abstract

Indoor wood and coal combustion is an important contributor to public health burdens in the Navajo Nation. Currently, there exist no emission factors representative of Navajo homestoves, fuels, and practices. This study developed emission factors for PM, OC, EC, CO, and CO using a representative Navajo homestove. These emission factors may be utilized in regional-, national-, and global-scale health and environmental models. Additionally, the protocols developed and results presented here may inform on-going stove design of the first EPA-certified wood and coal combination stove.

Environmental Concerns for Children with Asthma on the Navajo Nation

“…Coal produced much higher emissions than wood, but the Black Mesa variety produced the highest mass emission factors and energy emission factors for PM 2.5 , organic carbon, and carbon monoxide (19). However, ponderosa pine had the lowest mass emission factors and energy emission factors, with 50% lower PM 2.5 emissions than Utah juniper during the preburn phase, and was recommended over Utah juniper or coal by the research team for wood stove use (19). These findings suggest that newer, EPA-certified stoves in combination with fuel sources such as Utah juniper may reduce exposure to harmful indoor pollutants that contribute to asthma development.…”

“…Because wood stoves are commonly used on the Navajo reservation, investigating the efficacy and effectiveness of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)certified woodstoves is necessary. Recently, Champion and colleagues compared the emission factors (EF) of EPA-certified stoves using four of the most common solid fuel sources used by Navajo families (19). Ponderosa pine, Utah juniper, Black Mesa (grade C) bituminous coal, and Fruitland (grades B and C) bituminous coal were tested (19).…”

“…Recently, Champion and colleagues compared the emission factors (EF) of EPA-certified stoves using four of the most common solid fuel sources used by Navajo families (19). Ponderosa pine, Utah juniper, Black Mesa (grade C) bituminous coal, and Fruitland (grades B and C) bituminous coal were tested (19). Controlled emission testing was conducted to determine mass emission factors and energy emission factors.…”

“…Controlled emission testing was conducted to determine mass emission factors and energy emission factors. Coal produced much higher emissions than wood, but the Black Mesa variety produced the highest mass emission factors and energy emission factors for PM 2.5 , organic carbon, and carbon monoxide (19). However, ponderosa pine had the lowest mass emission factors and energy emission factors, with 50% lower PM 2.5 emissions than Utah juniper during the preburn phase, and was recommended over Utah juniper or coal by the research team for wood stove use (19).…”

High Levels of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Concentrations from Burning Solid Fuels in Rural Households of Butajira, Ethiopia

“…The burning of wood and other solid fuels such as crop residues, charcoal and dung for cooking are major sources of particulate air pollution [ 1 ]. The resulting combustion particles are largely in the fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) mode, i.e., with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (µm) [ 1 , 2 ]. The cooking practice on open fires and inefficient stoves produces high pollutant emissions which account for a large proportion of damage to human health especially in low- and middle-income countries.…”