Energy and Human Health | Solar Cooker Review | Bangladesh study | Cooking Fuel and Respiratory Health: Evidence from Indonesia
Dan Campbell
Energy and Human Health
JUNE 3, 2013 · 0 COMMENTS
Energy and Human Health. Annu. Rev. Public Health 2013. 34:159–88.
Kirk R. Smith, Howard Frumkin, et al.
Energy use is central to human society and provides many health benefits. But each source of energy entails some health risks. This article reviews the health impacts of each major source of energy, focusing on those with major implications for the burden of disease globally. The biggest health impacts accrue to the harvesting and burning of solid fuels, coal and biomass, mainly in the form of occupational health risks and household and general ambient air pollution.
Lack of access to clean fuels and electricity in the world’s poor households is a particularly serious risk for health. Although energy efficiency brings many benefits, it also entails some health risks, as do renewable energy systems, if not managed carefully. We do not review health impacts of climate change itself, which are due mostly to climate-altering pollutants from energy systems, but do discuss the potential for achieving near-term health cobenefits by reducing certain climate-related emissions.
Solar Cooker Review – June 2013
JUNE 3, 2013 · 0 COMMENTS
Solar Cooker Review – June 2013. Solar Cookers International (SCI).
Contents
- The Urgent Need for a More Durable CooKit
- EPA Expo in DC
- Letter from the ED
- Solar Cookers in India
- Carbon Credit Funding
- SCI at the UN
- News You Send
- Solar Tech Talk
- Tribute Gifts
Chemical characterization of biomass burning deposits from cooking stoves in Bangladesh
JUNE 3, 2013 · 0 COMMENTS
Chemical characterization of biomass burning deposits from cooking stoves in Bangladesh. Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 52, May 2013, Pages 122–130.
Abdus Salam, et al.
Biomass burning smoke deposits were characterized from cooking stoves in Brahmondi, Narsingdi, Bangladesh. Arjun, bamboo, coconut, madhabilata, mahogany, mango, rice husk coil, plum and mixed dried leaves were used as biomasses. Smoke deposits were collected from the ceiling (above the stove) of the kitchen on aluminum foil. Deposits samples were analyzed with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy for trace elements determination. UV–visible spectrophotometer was used for ions analysis. The surface morphology of the smoke deposits was studied with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Elevated concentrations of the trace elements were observed, especially for toxic metals (Pb, Co, Cu). The highest concentration of lead was observed in rice husk coil among the determined biomasses followed by mahogany and arjun, whereas the lowest concentration was observed in bamboo. Potassium has the highest concentration among the determined trace elements followed by calcium, iron and titanium. Trace elements such as potassium, calcium, iron showed significant variation among different biomass burning smoke deposits. The average concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate were 38.0, 0.60, 0.73 mg kg−1, respectively. The surface morphology was almost similar for these biomass burning deposit samples. The Southeast Asian biomass burning smoke deposits had distinct behavior from European and USA wood fuels combustion.
Cooking Fuel and Respiratory Health: Evidence from Indonesia, 2013.
Ani Rudra Silwal and Andy McKay?Department of Economics, University of Sussex.
Although the combustion of solid fuels like ?rewood and charcoal produces various airborne toxins, they are widely used for cooking in developing countries. We examine whether cooking with solid fuels results in poorer respiratory health using a unique household survey conducted in Indonesia that measured the lung capacity of individuals. Using various estimation techniques,we ?find a statistically signifi?cant relationship between the choice of cooking fuel and lung capacity. Results from instrumental variables estimation show that cooking with solid fuels worsens lung capacity. Results from propensity score matching show that switching to a cleaner fuel signi?cantly improves lung capacity whereas switching to a dirtier fuel signi?cantly worsens it.These results provide evidence of the harmful eff?ects of cooking with solid fuels and the potential benefi?ts of switching to a cleaner fuel.