Coal Stoves Research Articles

Critical values for carbon monoxide in cases admitted to the emergency department in a local hospital

Abstract Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning has been an important concern in winter particularly due to malfunctioning coal stoves, in many developing countries, including Turkey. Winter months, especially February, were the most dangerous periods for CO exposure. Carbon monoxide has no color or smell so has known as the silent killer. Brain, heart, and other organs are under risk in CO poisoning. Because patients usually present with non-specific symptoms, CO poisoning should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained nausea and vomiting, neurological or cardiac signs and symptoms. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is a reliable marker to monitor the patient. Lactate is also important as a measure of impaired systemic oxygen delivery. Fifteen patients with a diagnosis of CO poisoning were included in the study. This is the number of all cases admitted to the emergency in the last one and a half months in our local hospital located in a town with almost 48.918 residents. Blood gas analysis was performed by ABL90 FLEX, Radiometer. Reference for COHb was 0.6-1.5 % and for lactate was 0.5-1.6 mmol/L. Troponin I levels were also analyzed in some patients to assess possible myocardial ischemia. Troponin levels were analyzed by ARCHITECT i2000, Abbott and reference range was <16 ng/mL in woman, <34 ng/mL in men. Graph Pad Prism program was used for statistical analysis of the data. We had 15 cases aged between 4-56 years with COHb values with panic values (> 20%) except two of the cases with values 16.5% and 19%. The female-male ratio was 6/9. On admission to the Emergency Department, 46.6% of patients (n=7) had headache and vomiting, 40% of patients (n=6) had headache, 6.6% (n=1) fatigue and 6.6% of patients (n=1) had syncope. Median value of COHb % was 23.7(16.5-40.8), lactate was 1.9 (0.8-4.8), pH was 7.39 (7.30-7.47). Excluding three patients as outliers, lactate levels had a good correlation with carboxyhemoglobin values (R2=0.9413). It was notable that 1 patient had a higher-than-normal Troponin I level (24.9 ng/mL) who has highest lactate level (4.8 mmol/L). Four of the patients, from the same family was admitted for suspected food poisoning for the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. A diagnosis of CO poisoning was made after a COHb value between 16.5-25.7% for these patients. This was very critical for the accurate treatment given to those patients being hyperbaric oxygen treatment in CO poisoning cases. CO poisoning should be considered in patients admitting to the emergency department with complaints of headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and vomiting. Reporting panic values is a means of alerting the clinician for the right diagnosis.

High-throughput production of low-cost hydrophobic and oleophilic mullite fiber sponges for high-temperature PM filtration

Particulate matter (PM) from high-temperature emissions like chemical plants, coal stoves and vehicle exhausts poses a gravel challenge to human health. To address this issue, researchers have explored various fiber filters, yet the bulk struggle to withstand high temperatures. In this study, mullite fiber sponges were developed utilizing low-cost materials and Kármán vortex solution blow spinning, using surfactants to improve the spinnability of the sol. Optimized sponges demonstrate ultralight (19 mg cm−3), temperature-resistant reversible compressibility (50% strain) and a water contact angle of 135°. These sponges exhibited exceptional thermal insulation (thermal conductivity: 0.0256 W m−1 K−1) and performed well in high-temperature air filtration. At 800 °C, the mullite sponge with a base weight of 35 mg cm−2, achieved an average filtration efficiency of 98.18 % and 99.57 % for PM2.5 and PM2.5−10, respectively, with a quality value of 0.98 Pa-1 at a wind speed of 4 cm s−1. This low-cost mullite fiber sponge offers a promising avenue for designing high-performance filtration materials.

High-resolution organic and black carbon records in the South Yellow Sea over the last century

The mud depositional area ("mud area") of the South Yellow Sea serves as a prominent carbon sink within the Eastern Continental Shelf of China, offering crucial insights into human activities and climate fluctuations and its relationship with carbon cycle. This study investigates variations in total organic carbon (TOC) and black carbon (BC) concentrations in South Yellow Sea sediments. By combining 210Pb isotope analysis with grain-size profiling, the study distinguishes organic carbon origins, revealing the complex interplay between human activities and environmental shifts since the Industrial Revolution. The reasons for discrepancies between TOC and BC contents are analyzed, yielding the following results: (1) Sediment core QY-2 predominantly contains terrestrial-sourced organic carbon, primarily derived from the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. (2) Temporal fluctuations of BC in core QY-2 show distinct trends, periodic responses to human activities, particularly peaks in 1937 and 1945, linked to large-scale wars in China. (3) Relaxed carbon emission regulations in China, coupled with industrial growth spurred by the “reform and opening up” policy, led to a continuous rise in BC content from the mid-1960s to the 1980s, peaking in 1980. Subsequently, reduced BC values during the 1990s correlated with emission control policies and the shift from highly polluting domestic coal stoves to cleaner alternatives like liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas stoves. (4) BC content was influenced by the East Asian monsoon and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), with higher BC accumulation rates occurring in summer and depletion in winter. (5) Interestingly, changes in BC and TOC content exhibited a negative correlation. While grain size and material sources minimally influenced these discrepancies, the primary driver lay in the water's redox environment, impacting other TOC components and thereby causing variations in both TOC and BC content. This study of black carbon sources to sinks in the South Yellow Sea Mud Area holds significant implications for the broader Yellow Sea sedimentary system and provides support for understanding carbon cycle and marine environments.

A Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Case Insight: The Convergence of Social Media and Epidemiology

This study explores the role of social media in public health through a case of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning prevented and subsequently overlooked, as influenced by digital community interaction. A TikTok influencer shared an experience with a coal stove, leading to followers advising against its use due to CO poisoning risks. This advice was heeded, yet a family member, unaware of these risks, experienced CO poisoning. This incident illuminates social media’s potential in disseminating life-saving health information and influencing behavior, forming the basis of “Media Epidemiology.” This new field studies how digital communication impacts health-related behaviors and outcomes. Our analysis highlights social media as a tool for rapid health information dissemination and preventive action. It underscores the need for integrating digital platform dynamics into public health strategies, emphasizing education on hazards like CO poisoning. This study advocates for leveraging social media in public health, exemplifying its role in disease prevention and health promotion, and marking a significant stride in contemporary epidemiological research.

Necessary CO2 emissions improvement based on rural residential coal/stove-specific coal combustion and prefectural-differentiation synergistic effect of pollutants and carbon emission reduction

Rural residential coal combustion (RRCC) is an important CO2 emission source in rural areas and these emissions vary greatly by coal and stove types. The lack of CO2 emission estimations for different coal-stove combinations restricts refinement and region-differentiated synergistic reduction of pollution and CO2 emissions from RRCC. This study established the coal and stove specific CO2 emissions inventory of RRCC based on investigated coal combustion of various coal and stove types, taking the region of Hebei in China as an example. The synergistic reduction effect of CO2 and pollutants was evaluated using 4 emission reduction scenarios. CO2 emission was 67.4% higher than estimates of RRCC based on the Statistical Yearbook and IPCC emission factors. The combination of bituminous coal and an advanced coal stove was the greatest contributor (62.1%) to CO2 emissions. Bituminous coal burnt in home Arcola has the highest per capita hourly and per unit calorific value CO2 emission, 2.3 and 2.4 times higher than the combination of anthracite briquette coal and pit coal stove and the combination of bituminous coal and an advanced coal stove, respectively. Except for NOx and CO, the coal-stove combination with the lowest per capita hourly and per unit calorific value emissions is anthracite briquette coal and an advanced coal stove. Scenario analysis shows that updated coal stoves feature the highest pollutant emission reduction, but greater CO2 and NOX emissions. For individual cities, synergistic pollution and carbon reduction is seen in Tangshan and Qinhuangdao, and organic carbon, CO, and SO2 have better synergistic positive reduction with CO2, while NOX has shown a negative effect with CO2 in other cities with the best coal and stove update scenario. Compared with the coal and stove update scenario, emission reduction effects with clean fuel substitution varies across cities. This study is helpful to understand the possible non-synergy of pollutant and CO2 reduction in the process of RRCC management. Attention should be given to issues related to the synergistic control plan of pollution and CO2 reduction for RRCC with local adaptation.

Screening and early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population study

Background and objectiveAlthough chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease leading to further morbidity and significant mortality, there is still limited data on screening for COPD. The purpose of this study was to establish an early chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) screening system for the community and hospitals in Nanshan District in Shenzhen City, to improve the rate of early diagnosis and treatment of patients with COPD.MethodsWe identified individuals at high risk of COPD using a questionnaire survey and analyzed the relevant influencing factors in the early stages of COPD in high-risk groups.ResultsWe collected a total of 5,000 COPD screening questionnaires, and a total of 449 patients were diagnosed with COPD by pulmonary function examination. The prevalence of COPD in people aged 20 and above in Nanshan District of Shenzhen City was estimated to be 8.98%, with a base of 5000. The severity classification as per the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria was as follows: GOLD I accounted for 34.74%; GOLD II accounted for 37.64%; GOLD III accounted for 16.04%; and GOLD IV accounted for 11.58%. Common features of early COPD that we identified were: (1) patients were mainly males, accounting for 68.0%; (2) COPD was common among people aged 50–59 years, comprising 31%; (3) 96.0% of patients often had severe respiratory symptoms and had frequent coughs when they did not have a cold; (4) 57.2% of patients experienced shortness of breath when walking quickly on level ground or climbing gentle slopes; (5) 72.6% of patients had a family history of bronchial asthma and COPD. Multivariate ordinal multi-classification logistic regression showed that gender, age, shortness of breath, and the use of firewood, grass, and coal stoves were all influencing factors in pulmonary function grading.ConclusionA screening questionnaire combined with a pulmonary function test should be adopted as a COPD screening strategy to be implemented at the primary level as a public health priority in China to reduce the incidence, disability, and mortality from COPD.

Indoor thermal comfort comparison between passive solar house with active solar heating and without active solar heating in Tibetan

Passive solar house technology has been spread for many farmers and herdsmen to improve the indoor thermal environment in Tibetan. However, due to lackage of fuels and arid cold in winter, dry cow dung and coal are popularly fired in stove in passive solar houses, which leads to indoor air pollution and poor indoor comfort. For improving indoor thermal comfort of Tibetan, an active solar heating system which consists of 7 sets of tandem solar water heaters with 30 glass evacuated solar tubes, low temperature floor heating and circulation controller was developed and tested for a common house without insulation in Gan-nan Tibetan area. Its indoor environment was compared and evaluated by PMV-PPD and LPD method to that of the same passive solar house heated by coal stove. On sunny, cloudy and snow days, the active solar heating system provided 113.1, 46.4 and 26.3 kWh of heat to room. The indoor humidity and wind speed of the experimental building were better. The indoor temperatures were 17.2-20.7, 14.9-20.5 and 11.0-14.8°C, while the compared building were 8.9-14.8, 10.1-12.1 and 7.2-10.5°C. The maximum temperature difference between head and ankle were 1.7, 1.6 and 0.9℃, and the compared building were 4, 4 and 4.7℃. The PMV-PPD on sunny day were class I and II; on cloudy day were class I, II and III; on snow day was class III. On sunny and cloudy days, the LPD were class I, on snow day was class I, II and III. The PMV-PPD and LPD for typical days of the compared building were class III. During the 179 days, the mean indoor temperature exceeded 14 ℃ for 81 days, the solar active heating system provided 12471 kWh of heat to room. The CO2 emission reduction was 12905 kg. The system's dynamic payback period were 2.57 years.

Moss-bag technique as an approach to monitor elemental concentration indoors

The moss-bag technique has been used for many decades to monitor outdoor pollution. More recently, however, the method has been used to monitor indoor air pollution (IAP), as humans spend the majority of their time indoors. The purpose of the research conducted was to evaluate indoor air pollution using active moss biomonitoring. Pleurozium schreberi moss bags were exposed for two seasons (summer and winter), hanging over tile stoves and coal stoves. The selected elements: Al, Cu, Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, V, Ba, Cr, Fe, Mn, Sr, P, Ni, and S were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and, for Hg, by a direct mercury analyzer. The study found the exposure season affected the concentrations of selected elements in 62.5% of cases, and their source was identified. The average concentrations of Co, Ba, Cr, and Sr were higher, and statistically significant, in winter, after a 12-week exposure period of the mosses, regardless of the type of heating or cooking stove owned. The higher phosphorus concentrations obtained in summer indicate physiological stress caused by unfavorable winter exposure conditions. In the future, the number of species used to assess indoor air pollution should be increased and the range of pollutants expanded, along with the identification of their sources, taking residents’ lifestyles into account.

Assessing surface ozone risk to human health and forests over time in Poland

Hourly ground-level ozone (O3) data from 52 monitoring stations in Poland were analyzed over a ten-year pre-COVID19 period (2010–2019) to map and define areas at risk for human health and vegetation, and to calculate trends over the study period. Annual O3 metrics (24-h average concentrations, 50th percentiles, and hourly maxima), human health metrics (Sum Of daily maximum 8-h Means Over 35 ppb, SOMO35, summertime average of the daily 8-h maximum O3 concentrations, O3 MDA8, and number of daily maximum 8-h values above 60 ppb, EU60) and vegetation exposure metrics (AOT40, i.e., accumulation of hourly O3 concentrations exceeding 40 ppb during the growing season for agricultural crops AOT40c and forests AOT40f) were investigated. Higher O3 levels occurred in rural areas than in cities. Between 2010 and 2019, the O3 levels were rising in both urban and rural areas. Despite the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx: - 2.33% year-1) and volatile organic compounds emissions (VOCs: - 0.95% year-1), annual O3 mean levels (+0.81 and +0.12% year-1), 50th percentiles (+1.06 and ∼0% year-1), hourly maxima (- 0.10 and +0.23% year-1), SOMO35 (+2.86 and +1.50% year-1), summertime O3 MDA8 (+0.49 and +0.48% year-1), EU60 (+0.09 and +0.15 days year-1), AOT40c (+3.79 and +3.29% year-1) and AOT40f (+4.47 and +4.34% year-1) commonly increased in urban and rural stations. The O3 levels increased at 75.0% of urban stations and 62.5% of rural stations. A slight decline of the number of O3 peaks occurred in cities, likely driven by the recent reductions in NOx emissions by on-road transport. For all metrics, the increase can be attributed to higher regional photochemical O3 formation and rising background O3 levels likely driven by imported O3 and its precursors by long-range transport, climate change, and lower O3 titration by NOx emissions decline. The failure to attain the target value for O3 for protecting vegetation and human health and vegetation persists. Southeastern Poland, where coal stoves are still used for residential heating, faces the highest O3 risk. This study reports new information on surface O3 levels, exceedances, and trends in Poland to develop effective policies to mitigate O3 effects.

Qozha Imam Faizulla, Bureaucracy, and Coal Stoves: A Case Study of Late Soviet Islam in Kazakhstan

Abstract Family identity and honor were important priorities for Central Asian Muslims in the Soviet era. This ethnographic case study explores how sacred family identity affected the educational and career choices of Faizulla, an imam in northern Kazakhstan whose career started in the late Soviet era and stretched into the 2000s. Faizulla was a Qozha: a person descended from Islamically significant figures, such as the Prophet Muhammad or Sufi masters. Qozhas expect respect from Kazakhs, but this comes with expectations that Qozhas and their children should maintain standards of piety and Islamic learning. We show how in the late Soviet period Faizulla attempted to live with the demands of Qozha identity, and how he navigated Soviet bureaucracies to meet these demands. It transpires that Faizulla did not frame himself in Soviet national terms, and nor did he identify himself fully as Uzbek or Kazakh; rather, he employed a shifting repertoire of identity roles in the process of dealing with the Soviet authorities.

Fine particulate matter and gas emissions at different burn phases from household coal-fired heating stoves

Household coal burning contributes a large proportion of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and CO emissions in China. Previous lab or field investigations generally measured short-term emissions from heating coal stoves, and only covered the high power phase or the flaming combustion processes, and did not consider smoldering combustion condition, which does not provide full characterization of the actual conditions in most cases. In this study, we investigated air pollutant emissions during the different burn phases of seven types of coal burned in a typical household coal-fired heating stove in the lab with a hood sampling system. We proposed a method to estimate coal consumption at the different burn phases, and thus quantify emission factors (EFs) at different burn phases. The concentrations of CO2, CO, SO2, NOx, and PM2.5 fluctuated over 1 to 4 orders of magnitude during the whole burn cycle. The air pollutant concentration peaks, such as CO and PM2.5, were generally associated with coal addition. EFs of CO2, SO2, total water soluble inorganic ions (TWSIIs) followed the trend: high power phase > low power phase > banked fire phase. However, CO EFs followed the opposite trend, i.e., banked fire phase > low power phase > high power phase. EFs of NOx and EC in high power phase and low power phase were higher than those in banked fire phase. The variation in EFs of PM2.5 and OC in different burn phases across seven types of coal burned in this study is complicated. When using EFs from high power phase or flaming phase to represent EFs from the whole process, CO2, SO2, NOx, EC and TWSIIs emissions will be overestimated, CO emissions will be underestimated, PM2.5 and OC emissions may be overestimated or underestimated, depending on coal types.

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics Predicting the Severity of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Children: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) is extremely common throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to assess the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics predicting the severity COP in children. The study included 380 children diagnosed with COP between January 2017 and January 2021 and 380 healthy controls. Carbon monoxide poisoning was diagnosed based on the medical history and a carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level of more than 5%. The patients were classified as mild (COHb 10%), moderate (COHb 10%-25%), or severely (COHb > 25%) poisoned. The mean age of the severe group was 8.60 ± 6.30, for the moderate group was 9.50 ± 5.81, for the mild group was 8.79 ± 5.94, and for the control group was 8.95 ± 5.98. The most common place of exposure was at home and all cases were affected accidentally. The coal stove was the most common source of exposure, followed by natural gas. The most common symptoms were nausea/vomiting, vertigo, and headache. Neurologic symptoms such as syncope, confusion, dyspnea, and seizures were more common in the severe group. A total of 91.3% of the children had hyperbaric oxygen therapy, 3.8% were intubated, and 3.8% were transferred to intensive care in the severe group, whereas no death or sequela was observed. Mean platelet volume and red cell distribution width had the highest area under the curve in the receiver operating characteristic analysis (0.659; 0.379). A positive and low statistically significant relationship was found between COHb levels and troponin and lactate levels in the severe group ( P < 0.05). Carbon monoxide poisoning progressed more severely in children presented with neurological symptoms and have elevated red cell distribution width and mean platelet volume. Even in severe COP cases, satisfactory results have been obtained with early and appropriate treatment.

Оценка устойчивого развития города Улан–Батора на основе геохимического анализа почв

Introduction. Assessment of the ecological state of mountainous areas and, especially, large cities, in particular the city of Ulaanbaatar, the study of anthropogenic pressure on sensitive mountain landscapes is very relevant. This is important from the point of view of the contribution of the ecological structural component to the sustainable development of the mountainous area. However, the lack of data on the spatial distribution of the microelement composition of the soil of the urbanized mountainous landscape, especially heavy metals, does not allow a Complex estimationof the ecological state of the territory of the mountainous capital of Mongolia. The purpose of the research: ecological assessment of the soil cover of the metropolis of Ulaanbaatar using geochemical parameters and GIS technologies. Materials and methods of research. Field and physico-chemical methods of studying soils, as well as GIS technologies were used to obtain halo maps of the distribution of anthropogenic pollutants - heavy metals Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Hg and oil products. Research results. It was revealed that the key parameter of the state of the soil, the pH indicator, reaches 8-9 units, which means alkalization of the surface soil layer. An active ion-exchange complex has been formed, which leads to the accumulation of technogenic pollutants in the soil. The contents of metals Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Hg exceed their standard values based on MPC (MAC). With the use of GIS, halos of their distribution, as well as oil products in the territory of Ulaanbaatar, were obtained. Discussion. Sources of heavy metals are emissions from thermal power plants operating on lignite. Yurts also contribute to severe soil pollution, as they are heated by coal stoves. A large number of personal vehicles and a chaotically located network of gas stations supply metals and petroleum products to the soil. The formation of sparingly soluble fixed forms of metals as a result of alkalization led to their accumulation in the soil. Linear local fields of metal pollution have been identified, which clearly indicate the ecological trouble in the city and the need to take environmental protection measures. Conclusion. The parameters of the geochemical state of techno-genically altered mountain soils in the city of Ulaanbaatar revealed contamination with heavy metals and NPs. Local pollution modules with the accumulation of chemical toxicants have been formed. The halo maps of their distribution are obtained, the formation of a spatially linear type of pollution of the mountain landscape is shown. Offers. The possibility of zoning the territory according to the degree of environmental safety is shown. This should be taken into account in the social and economic aspects of the development of the metropolis, as well as to create a safe living environment for people, to optimize architectural development, to regulate the placement of a network of gas stations, highways and, especially, yurts.

AN OVERVIEW OF CARBON MONOXIDE DEATHS IN KUWAIT BETWEEN YEARS 2013-2019 WITH FOUR RARE CASES PRESENTATION: A FORENSIC PRACTITIONER EXPERIENCE.

Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, non-irritating highly toxic gas produced after the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. CO forms carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), which will lead to severe tissue hypoxia and death in some cases. Materials and Method: In the present study, we will discuss the commonest causes of deaths due to CO toxicity in Kuwait between the years 2013-2019 from the perspective of a forensic medicine practitioner in the Forensic Medicine Department in the General Administration for Criminal Evidence – Ministry of Interior- Kuwait. Additionally, we present a rare accidental death of four cases (2 male and female partners), which were handled in 2015 and 2016 in the Forensic Medicine Department. Each couple was found dead in a car parked in an open space and the lethal levels of COHb were detected in their bloods. Result and conclusion: Between the years 2013-2019, in every 100 cases of non-criminal deaths that occur yearly in Kuwait, there were 1-3 cases of CO accidental poisoning (1-2%). The ages ranged from 9 months until 81 years. The range of the COHb concentration in the blood sample was from 36.5% to 80%. The most common cause was smoke inhalation in fires (60%). Defective coal stove was less common which is believed to occur only during winter months (20%). Consequently, the presentation of four autopsies of cases found dead in closed cars in open spaces, after accidental lethal CO inhalation, was worth mentioning. After expert examination, both cars showed defective engines where the CO level increases inside the cabinet which led to death while the cars were in an open land. These cases are worthwhile reporting being rarely described in forensic toxicology.

Optimization of decoupling combustion characteristics of coal briquettes and biomass pellets in household stoves

Burning coal briquettes or biomass pellets in household decoupling stoves is of significance to the reduction of residential pollutant emissions such as NO and CO. In order to make full use of the superiority of decoupling combustion technology, the household stoves should be specially designed and optimized to adapt to fuel types and combustion characteristics. Using numerical simulation and experimental validation, this study quantitatively clarified that the reducibility of devolatilization char plays an important role in the suppression of NO emission in the decoupling combustion of coal, while the reducibility of pyrolysis gases has a dominant effect on the reduction of NO in the decoupling combustion of biomass. An optimal parameter combination of throat height and grate angle was obtained for the simultaneous suppression of NO and CO emissions in the household decoupling stove burning coal briquettes. Two types of decoupling stoves were developed to enable the clean combustion of biomass pellets. The A-type biomass stove with a multi-pass smoke tunnel shows a better comprehensive NO and CO reduction effectiveness than the B-type biomass stove consisting of a two-stage grate structure and an S-shaped pyrolysis chamber. The optimal structural parameters provided references for the design and manufacture of commercial decoupling coal and biomass stoves.

Indoor air pollution from coal combustion and tobacco smoke during the periconceptional period and risk for neural tube defects in offspring in five rural counties of Shanxi Province, China, 2010–2016

Indoor air pollution may increase the risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) in Chinese rural populations. However, this association remains a subject of debate. We conducted a population-based case-control study of 222 NTD and 517 control mothers recruited between 2010 and 2016 in five rural areas in northern China. An indoor air pollution exposure evaluation index (IAPEEI) was used to evaluate mothers’ exposure to tobacco-sourced and coal-sourced indoor air pollution. Essential characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires within 10 days of delivery. We found that exposure to indoor air pollution (IAPEEI ≥ 1) can lead to 3.41 times the risk of conceiving NTD fetuses compared with the no-exposure group (IAPEEI = 0) (adjusted odds ratio and 95 % confidence interval: 3.41 [2.34–5.02]). The risk increased with increasing IAPEEI score, indicating a clear dose–response trend (P < 0.001). Using a coal stove for heating (especially in the bedroom) and passive smoking are significantly associated with an increased likelihood of NTD occurrence. Exposure to indoor air pollution is a daily reality for rural women in China, and its impact on reproductive health deserves extensive attention.

Improving Building Envelope Efficiency Lowers Costs and Emissions from Rural Residential Heating in China.

In 2017, the Chinese government launched a clean heating campaign that replaced millions of rural coal stoves with various clean heaters. The clean heating program contributed to remarkable improvements in air quality. However, the benefits of reducing heating demand by improving building envelope efficiency were not sufficiently considered. This study provides a needed quantitative assessment of potential energy-savings, costs, greenhouse gas emission reductions, and adoption strategies for improving building envelope efficiency in Chinese rural residential buildings. We find that different strategies must be employed in existing and new buildings to achieve desired outcomes. For existing buildings, to encourage easy and beneficial building retrofits (e.g., air sealing, efficient windows), current fuel subsidies should be replaced with retrofit subsidies. Building retrofits can reduce the size and hence capital costs of new clean heaters. They can also reduce operating costs, hence reducing the likelihood of backsliding to coal. For new construction, whole-home insulation and heat pumps would best avoid carbon lock-in. These efficient technologies have high upfront costs but decrease heating costs and significantly reduce carbon emissions relative to current policies. Hence, subsidies and policies that encourage improvements in building envelopes as well as the uptake of clean and efficient heaters are critical.

Monitoring indoor air quality using smart integrated gas sensor module (IGSM) for improving health in COPD patients.

Technology advancement, industrialisation, and globalisation have been significant reasons for air pollution outdoors and indoors. It may surprise us that we spend about 80% of our time indoors breathing toxic, stale, polluted air, making us sluggish and fretful. In contrast to outdoor air, indoor air does not recycle consistently. It traps and builds pollutants from wood and coal stoves, furniture and building materials, paints and solvents, cigarette smoke, and cleaning supplies. The prolonged exposure to these hidden pollutants can prompt respiratory disorders such as lung disease, pneumonitis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is enduring and is not curable, which has been a threat to humanity for ages. COPD's major cause is airborne particulate matter and other toxic compounds emitted from indoor and outdoor sources. Outdoor air pollution can be controlled only by acquiring changes in the vast population, wherein for indoor, every individual may create a major impact on improving air purity, thereby promoting health. The proposed design model for monitoring indoor air quality was tested in a normal and stimulating environment where we live. Parameters tested included temperature, humidity, amount of PM2.5, and the concentration of CO, CO2, and NH3. These parameters were monitored for five to 6 h per day for 8 days. Results indicate that the total air quality lies in the moderate range. Further study will be helpful to utilise this module as an effective Indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring system. HIGHLIGHTS: • A simple, effective, inexpensive integrated gas sensor module (IGSM) has been proposed in this study to monitor the indoor air quality index (IAQI). • Indoor air quality was tested in a normal and stimulating environment for 8 days. • The integrated gas sensor module (IGSM) was composed of sensors in series, and the outputs for the respective parameter were measured easily. • Among the parameters tested, CO and PM2.5 lie in the moderate range, while other pollutants within the normal range reveal that the tested air quality is moderate.

Pollutant Levels at Cooking Place and Their Association with Respiratory Symptoms in Women in a Rural Area of Delhi-NCR

Household air pollution resulting from biomass and coal stoves is implicated in more than one-third cases of annual deaths from chronic lung diseases worldwide and nearly 3% of lung cancer deaths. This burden is borne largely by poor women in the developing countries. We carried out a study to evaluate its association with respiratory symptoms in women in a rural area. The study was carried out using a standard questionnaire, in 92 households including 174 women. The data on respiratory symptoms in women, kitchen type and location in households, type of fuel used for cooking, permanent ventilation in kitchen, presence of exhaust, history of tobacco smoking and indoor pollution level were obtained. Spirometery of participants was conducted. The indoor particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured in each home. The households were divided into two groups according to the location of the kitchen. In 46 households (Group A) women had a separate room as kitchen for cooking with good ventilation and exhaust conditions; and in the remaining 46 households (Group B) cooking was done in the living area. Seventy (76.1%) households used biomass fuel for cooking and heating (37; 80.4%, in Group A versus 46; 100% in Group B). The proportion of women with respiratory symptoms for one year or more was significantly high in Group B compared to Group A (13.0% versus 3.1% p = 0.01). The households which did not have a separate kitchen (Group B) had higher particulate matter and VOCs concentration. This study contributes to the growing evidence of adverse impact of indoor air pollution from biomass combustion on health of females. Results of the study demonstrated significantly high particulate matter (PM2.5), in households not using a separate room for cooking with biomass fuel.

Cooking, Heating, Insulating Products and Services (CHIPS) for Mongolian ger: Reducing energy, cost, and indoor air pollution

This project sought to answer three related questions about the Mongolian ger (ger are called yurt in Russian) assembled in the highly polluted, informal settlement areas called ger-districts. (1) Can replacing coal stoves with electric heaters in ger reduce indoor PM2.5 concentration? (2) What are the major causes of indoor PM2.5 concentration in ger? (3) Is it cost effective to heat ger with electric heaters? A year of testing insultation protocols in Ulaanbaatar was followed in the second year by the deployment of a package of “Cooking, Heating, Insulating Products and Services” (CHIPS) to nearly 183 ger in Bayankhongor, Mongolia. The results demonstrated that a better sealed and insulted ger could be heated with electricity less expensively than heating a typical ger with wood and coal. However, the use of electric heaters did not reduce indoor air pollution. The results showed that indoor pollution levels closely followed outdoor levels, with a small delay for air to infiltrate. The study suggests that to reduce indoor air pollution, enough ger in a district would need to be heated with electricity to significantly reduce the outdoor air pollution.