MST-Department of Environmental Studies and Community Development

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Browsing MST-Department of Environmental Studies and Community Development by Subject "Biomass energy --Embu --Kenya"

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    Indoor carbon monoxide emmission and particulates produced from combustion of carbon based fuels and their health implications on rural households of Manyatta Division, Embu District Kenya
    (2011-08-18) Njeru, Linus Kariuki; Stephen O. Anyango; Jones F. Agwata
    Over eighty percent of rural households in developing countries use biomass fuels (wood, dung and crop residues) for cooking and heating. This is done in open fires or simple stoves, mostly indoors, and rarely with adequate ventilation or chimneys. The study examined the fuel and stove types used by the households; ventilation conditions of the cooking areas; some indoor air pollutants emitted from smoke namely carbon monoxide and total suspended particulates and awareness on the associated health implications in the rural households of Manyatta Division of Embu District. Household and health facilities questionnaires were used to answer research questions on the stove and fuel types used and the level of awareness on the health implication of the indoor smoke. Carbon monoxide load was determined quantitatively through volumetric methods and total suspended particulates by use of filter paper traps. Percentages, averages, analysis of variance within and between groups and significance testing were done to test the differences in the groups. Results from the study show that, seventy percent of the households use wood fuel for their cooking either inform of charcoal or fire wood of which eighty six percent of these household use firewood which is not dried. These are burnt in inefficient stoves in the form of earthen or metal jikos in kitchens which are poorly ventilated. The pollutant load from the households using alternative fuels (biogas or kerosene) was lower compared to those using wood fuel (firewood or charcoal). The total Suspended particulates and carbon monoxide load in mg/m3 was low for the well ventilated households as compared to poorly ventilated households. e.g. Total suspended particulates load in well ventilated conditions from households using firewood, charcoal, kerosene and biogas was 0.11,0.04, 0.04 and 0.002 mg/m3 respectively as compared to 0.14, 0.12, 0.05 and 0.02 mg/m3 from poorly ventilated condition. Children under the age of five, the aged (>60 years) and women especially expectant mothers were found to be the most vulnerable to health risks associated with indoor smoke at thirty seven percent , eighteen percent and fourteen percent respectively. Seventy three percent of the households sampled were not aware of the health hazards associated with exposure to indoor air pollutants resulting from smoke. The study findings call for greater action oriented research, policy attention and commitment to provide effective indoor air pollution mitigation strategies to the rural households