Particle emissions from household fires in South Africa

Abstract

The effects of airborne particles on the atmosphere, climate and public health are among the central topics in current environmental research. South Africa is a developing country, therefore not all households have access to electricity. In municipalities in the province of the Eastern Cape, for example, electricity usage for cooking ranges from 95.5% of households to only 8.1%. The households which do not utilise electricity make use of other resources to meet their needs in terms of energy provision for lighting, cooking and heating, including charcoal and wood burning in braziers. This paper investigates the particle emissions from household fires prepared using two methods, with reference to potential human health effects. Particles were sampled onto quartz fibre filters, which were analysed by scanning electron microscopy and GCxGC-MS. Particulate matter collected near the traditional fire contained higher concentrations of adsorbed organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are of concern due to their potential human health effects. Changes in combustion conditions had a marked effect on the organic and particulate emissions. An integrated approach to reduce potential exposure from household fires should be explored, including energy efficient housing design; the provision of cost effective, energy efficient combustion appliances; as well as appropriate community education campaigns.

Status of PAHs in Environmental Compartments of South Africa: A Country Report

“…The monitoring and risk assessment of PAHs in air samples has been reported by Forbes et al (36)(37)(38)(39)(40). In general, more research is needed in this area as well.…”

“…Research by Forbes et al (36)(37)(38)(39)(40) has focused on the development and application of a novel denuder device for the simultaneous monitoring of both the gas and particle associated phases of PAHs in air. The technique involves the use of two multi-channel silicone rubber traps in series joined by a Teflon connector containing a quartz fiber filter (39).…”

“…The multi-channel silicone rubber trap based denuder has been used to investigate PAH emissions from household fires, vehicle emissions and underground mine diesel engines in South Africa (39,40). A number of organic compounds including PAHs and PAH derivatives were identified as part of the gas phase emissions from domestic heating fires and underground mine diesel engine emissions (39,40).…”

“…The technique involves the use of two multi-channel silicone rubber traps in series joined by a Teflon connector containing a quartz fiber filter (39). The first trap is called the primary trap that samples the gas-phase PAHs.…”

Monitoring of atmospheric gaseous and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in South African platinum mines utilising portable denuder sampling with analysis by thermal desorption–comprehensive gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

“…The efficiency of these novel denuder devices has been investigated from both theoretical and experimental perspectives and they have been utilised in a number of applications including household fire emissions, sugar cane burning emissions and in tunnel air pollution studies [20], [21].…”