Sources of indoor/outdoor air pollution in Accra

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Jan 7.

Within Neighborhood Patterns and Sources of Particle Pollution: Mobile Monitoring and GIS Analysis in Four Accra Communities.

Dionisio KL, Rooney MS, Arku RE, Friedman AB, Hughes AF, Vallarino J, Agyei-Mensah S, Spengler JD, Ezzati M. Harvard School of Public Health.

Background: Sources of air pollution in developing country cities include transportation and industrial pollution, biomass and coal fuel use, and re-suspended dust from unpaved roads.

Objectives: To understand within neighborhood spatial variability of PM in communities of varying socioeconomic status (SES) in Accra, and to quantify the effects of nearby sources on local PM concentration.

Methods: We conducted one week of morning and afternoon mobile and stationary air pollution measurements in four study neighborhoods. PM2.5 and PM10 were measured continuously, with matched GPS coordinates; detailed data on local sources were collected at periodic stops. The effects of nearby sources on local PM were estimated using linear mixed effects models.

Results: In our measurement campaign, the geometric means of PM2.5 and PM10 along the mobile monitoring path were 21 and 49 microg/m3, respectively, in the neighborhood with highest SES and 39 and 96 microg/m3, respectively, in the neighborhood with lowest SES and highest population density. PM2.5 and PM10 were as high as 200 and 400 microg/m3 respectively in some segments of the path. After adjusting for other factors, nearby wood and charcoal stoves, congested and heavy traffic, loose dirt road surface and trash burning had a the largest effects on local PM pollution.

Conclusions: Biomass fuels, transportation and unpaved roads may be important determinants of local PM variation in Accra neighborhoods. If confirmed by additional or supporting data, the results demonstrate the need for effective and equitable interventions and policies that reduce the impacts of traffic and biomass pollution.

Solar cooker research in Jordan

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Mohammed S. Al-Soud, Essam Abdallah, Ali Akayleh, Salah Abdallah, Eyad S. Hrayshat,

A parabolic solar cooker with automatic two axes sun tracking system, Applied Energy, Volume 87, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 463-470.

A parabolic solar cooker with automatic two axes sun tracking system was designed, constructed, operated and tested to overcome the need for frequent tracking and standing in the sun, facing all concentrating solar cookers with manual tracking, and a programmable logic controller was used to control the motion of the solar cooker. The results of the continuous test – performed for three days from 8:30 h to 16:30 h in the year 2008 – showed that the water temperature inside the cooker’s tube reached 90 [degree sign]C in typical summer days, when the maximum registered ambient temperature was 36 [degree sign]C. It was also noticed that the water temperature increases when the ambient temperature gets higher or when the solar intensity is abundant. This is in favor of utilizing this cooker in many developing countries, which are characterized by high solar insulations and high temperatures. Besides cooking, the proposed cooker could be utilized for warming food, drinks as well as to pasteurize water or milk.

Modelling of solid fuel stoves

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Shankar B. Kausley, Aniruddha B. Pandit,

Modelling of solid fuel stoves, Fuel, Volume 89, Issue 3, March 2010, Pages 782-791, ISSN 0016-2361, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2009.09.019.

This work presents a detailed theoretical study of solid fuel combustion in a domestic stove (make Harsha, RRL, Bhubaneswar, India). In this work different steady state as well as unsteady state combustion models have been formulated, which include the description of all the chemical and physical processes taking place during the solid fuel combustion inside the stove. Steady state models involve the calculation of effective maximum flame temperature, suction of combustion air created by hot flue gases inside the stove and the propagation of ignition front inside the stove. Unsteady state mathematical model involves all the processes occurring simultaneously or sequentially during the solid fuel combustion such as moisture evaporation, devolatilization, pyrolysis and homogeneous and heterogeneous combustion reactions. This unsteady state model gives the temperature profiles at different locations inside the stove and fuel mass loss (combustion) rate, which can be further used to calculate the power delivery by the stove during combustion. The model shows good agreement with the experimental results. These models can be used to find the effect of stove geometry and fuel properties on the stove performance parameters such as effective maximum flame temperature, suction created inside the stove, propagation of ignition front inside the stove, and fuel burn rate, which play an important role in the design of such stoves for maximum thermal efficiencies.

Rural household energy consumption in Bangladesh

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Md. Danesh Miah, et al.

, Energy Policy, Volume 38, Issue 2, February 2010, Pages 997-1003, ISSN 0301-4215, DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2009.10.051.

Energy is one of the most important ingredients required to alleviate poverty and realize socio-economic and human development, which is directly interconnected to the prominence of life in rural areas. An extensive survey on household energy consumption pattern interrelating socio-economic and demographic factors was carried out in the disregarded villages of Bangladesh using stratified random sampling technique of 120 households.

This paper focuses on household energy consumption, various combinations of fuels and their expenditure in the study area. Biomass, kerosene, electricity, LPG and candle were found as the energy carrier used in the rural households in this study. The study shows that 92% households use biomass, 28% LPG, 89% kerosene, 78% electricity and 27% candle as fuel types. It was found that 56% households collected biomass from their own homesteads and/or agricultural lands. Bamboo, branches, cow dung, firewood, rice husk, leaves & twigs and straw were found as the biomass for household energy use.

Average monthly household expenditure for total energy was US$ 9.67 (SE, 0.31) per month while the total monthly income of the household was US$ 123 (SE, 2.53). The ratio of the total monthly energy expenditure to the total monthly income was 7.86%. The study will be helpful to understand the energy consumption system and its expenditure in the rural areas of Bangladesh and to the policy formulation for energy production, consumption and utilization.

Thermoelectric power generation from biomass cook stoves

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

D. Champier, J.P. Bedecarrats, M. Rivaletto, F. Strub,

Thermoelectric power generation from biomass cook stoves, Energy, Volume 35, Issue 2, ECOS 2008, 21st International Conference, on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, February 2010, Pages 935-942.

The use of biomass cook stoves is widespread in the rural communities of developing countries. It is important to improve the efficiency of these stoves in order to reduce the global warming contribution. An improved biomass fired stove has been developed in our laboratory and a prototype has been built. The combustion chamber is designed to achieve the almost complete combustion of wood thus increasing the efficiency and decreasing indoor air pollution. An additional development, introduced in this paper, involves the use of a thermoelectric (TE) module in order to generate electricity to power the fan and give light. The air blowing through the stove increases the air/fuel ratio to achieve a complete combustion. In the first part, the paper presents the results from an experimental benchtest using commercial TE modules (Bismuth Telluride). The evaluation of the conversion efficiency is allowed at various temperature ranges. Then, the feasibility of adding commercial TE modules to the biomass cook stove prototype is investigated searching the best position of the modules. Lastly, a TE power generator experimental set up is presented showing that a 6 watts ready to use electrical production is possible with the biomass cook stove.

Solar Cookers International – New Executive Director

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Solar Cookers International announced on February 1st that Dolores Weis has joined the organization as its Executive Director, effective immediately. Ms. Weis brings eighteen years of humanitarian management experience across many countries and cultures, including Eastern Africa and Eastern Europe. A large portion of her efforts have focused on health and women, issues closely intertwined with the work of Solar Cookers International. In addition, Ms. Weis has been instrumental in dramatically growing several organizations and will leverage this experience to capture and shepherd the many opportunities that lay ahead for SCI.

“We are thrilled to have found in Dolores the rare combination of proven leadership skills, strong administrative capabilities, and international experience needed to help SCI broaden its scope and increase its impact,” said SCI Board President, Gary Hursh. Prior to joining Solar Cookers International, Ms. Weis served as Executive Director for the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Arizona where she was responsible for creating and implementing strategic directives involving systems, procedures, program development and fundraising to improve the overall operations of the organization. She also served in various senior-level positions with Air Serv International, Women for Women International and the American Red Cross. Ms. Weis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, a Practical Nursing degree, and a Masters degree in Public Administration.

Source – Sacramento Press

CNN – 'Saving lives' with solar-powered lights

February 12, 2010 · 0 comments

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) — The villagers’ faces light up as Evans Wadongo arrives. Men, women and children sing and gather around as he shows how his invention — a solar-powered LED lantern — will soon light up their homes.

“These families, they are so poor. They don’t have electricity,” said Wadongo, a native of rural Kenya. “It’s only kerosene and firewood that they use for lighting, cooking.

“The amount of money that every household uses to buy kerosene every day — if they can just save that money, they can be able to buy food.”

Wadongo, 23, not only is giving his country’s rural families a way to replace the smoky kerosene and firelight with solar power, he says he also hopes his invention will ultimately improve education and reduce poverty and hunger. And he’s providing it for free.

The youngest of four children, Wadongo grew up in a home that stressed the importance of education — his father was a high school teacher. But years of exposure to smoke while studying by kerosene and firelight left Wadongo with eyesight problems.

Read more/video – http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/11/cnnheroes.wadongo/

Research – many air pollutants are higher indoors than outdoors

February 9, 2010 · 0 comments

Source: Health and Environment Alliance Feb. 9, 2010

Levels of many harmful air pollutants are higher indoors than outdoors, according to new research conducted within the European Union, released this week (8th February). These latest findings, which identify the main polluters and map their geographical distribution, come from the European Indoor Air Monitoring and Exposure Assessment Project (AIRMEX), an EU funded project. The importance of the health impacts of indoor air pollution is officially recognised in the European Environment and Health Action Plan (EHAP) – a strategy which is designed to give the EU the scientific information to reduce the adverse health impacts of environmental factors and to endorse better cooperation between actors in the environment, health and research fields.

The AIRMEX study monitored indoor, outdoor and individual exposure to selected chemical compounds across the EU. The researchers found that levels of many harmful air pollutants are greater indoors than outdoors, and even higher when measured on the individual themselves. The levels of the chemical compound benzene – a known carcinogen – were found to be worryingly high and indicate higher exposure than what is normally expected with the annual EU limit values for ambient air quality. The study examined the impact of mixtures of chemicals on human lung cells. Results indicate that chemical compounds interact and the effects on human health will alter depending on the other chemicals present. The findings suggest that the multiple affects of indoor air pollutants depends on other factors unique to the individual, such as gender, stress, and genetic background.

Source – http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=31560&codi=152235

Links to indoor air pollution websites

February 4, 2010 · 0 comments

Below are links to websites that deal with indoor air pollution issues. If you know of others that should be added to the list, please send an email to: dcampbell@usaid.gov.

Boiling Point – a practitioner’s journal by HEDON
http://www.hedon.info/BoilingPoint

CEDESOL/Bolivia – Centro de Desarrollo en Energia Solar
http://cedesol.org

CleanAirSIG
http://www.hedon.info/cleanairsig

Envirofit
http://www.envirofit.org

Environmental Health at USAID
http://www.ehproject.org

GTZ – HERA (Household Energy for Sustainable Development)
http://www.gtz.de/en/themen/umwelt-infrastruktur/energie/12941.htm

HEDON – Household Energy Network
http://www.hedon.info

Kammen, Daniel – University of California, Berkeley
http://kammen.berkeley.edu

Kirk Smith’s Indoor Air Pollution Web Site
http://ehs.sph.berkeley.edu/krsmith/page.asp?id=1

Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA)
http://www.pciaonline.org

Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory
http://rael.berkeley.edu

Solar Cooking Archive Wiki – Solar Cookers International
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/The_Solar_Cooking_Archive_Wiki

Stoves – Biomass Cooking Stoves
http://stoves.bioenergylists.org

USAID Energy
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/economic_growth_and_trade/energy/index.html

Vuthisa Blog – South Africa
http://www.vuthisa.com

WHO Indoor Air
http://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/index.html

World Bank Indoor Air Pollution
http://go.worldbank.org/FEABW2WWX0

UNDP – The Energy Access Situation in Developing Countries

February 1, 2010 · 0 comments

 The “Energy Access Situation in Developing Countries – A Review focusing on the Least Developed Countries and Sub-Saharan Africa” report draws attention to the energy access situation beyond the conventional focus on electricity, especially in poorer developing countries where access is the most constrained. Main topics covered by the report include:

  • Energy access situation in LDCs and Sub-Saharan Africa, including access to electricity and modern fuels
  • Fuels and improved stoves used for cooking in developing countries
  • Health impacts attributable to indoor air pollution from household use of solid fuels for cooking and heating
  • Developing countries with modern energy access targets, and
  • An analysis of different energy access scenarios for 2015, to estimate the progress in energy access that will be needed for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Download

:: Full report
:: Key slides [pdf 4.22Mb]
:: 1-pager brief [pdf 40kb]

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