Indoor air pollution from biomass cookstoves in rural Senegal

Abstract

Although indoor air pollution from the use of biomass fuels is a serious health problem in Senegal, little effort has been made in this country to evaluate indoor air quality impacts from biomass combustion with traditional stoves and indoor air quality improvements derived from the use of improved cookstoves. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural village of Senegal to determine indoor air pollution during cooking and non-cooking periods. PM2.5 and CO concentration levels were determined, along with two far less studied pollutants in cookstove studies, ultrafine particles and black carbon, using portable monitors. A total of 22 households were selected, 12 using the traditional stove and 10 using a locally produced rocket stove. Rocket stoves, the most extended type of improved stove used in sub-Saharan Africa, contributed to a significant reduction of total fine and ultrafine (UFP) particles and carbon monoxide (CO) (75,4%, 30,5% and 54,3%, respectively, p < 0.05) with regard to the traditional stoves, but increased black carbon (BC) concentrations (36,1%, p < 0.05). This proves that the climate and health-relevant properties of stoves do not always scale together and highlights that both dimensions should be always considered. Findings evidence that, in addition to a switch in the emission source (i.e. cookstove and/or fuel), successful strategies focused on the improvement of household air quality in Senegal should contemplate ventilation practices and construction materials.