Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Gaseous Emissions from Household Cooking Devices: A Kenyan Case Study

Abstract

In developing countries, household energy use is highly variable and complex, yet emissions arising from fuel combustion indoors are typically poorly quantified. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are emitted during the combustion of organic fuels such as charcoal and biomass. In the present study, multichannel polydimethylsiloxane rubber traps were used for gas‐phase PAH sampling and extracted using a low–solvent volume plunger‐assisted solvent extraction method. Sixteen US Environmental Protection Agency priority PAHs, primarily in the gas phase, were investigated in indoor air of rural and urban residential homes in coastal Kenya (Mombasa and Taita Taveta Counties) using typical combustion devices of each area. Average gaseous PAH concentrations per household were higher in rural (ranging 0.81–6.09 µg m–3) compared to urban (ranging 0–2.59 µg m–3) homes, although ambient PAH concentrations were higher in urban environments, likely attributable to traffic contributions. The impact of fuel choice and thereby combustion device on PAH emissions was very clear, with the highest concentrations of PAHs quantified from wood‐burning emissions from 3‐stone stoves (total PAH averages 46.23 ± 3.24 µg m–3 [n = 6]). Average benzo[a]pyrene equivalent total concentrations were evaluated for the priority PAHs and ranged from not detected to 43.31, 88.38, 309.61, and 453.88 ng m–3 for gas, kerosene, jiko, 3‐stone, and improved 3‐stone stoves, respectively. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:538–547. © 2019 SETAC

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Emitted from Open Burning and Stove Burning of Biomass: A Brief Review

“…The structure of Heated Kang is a burning chamber (Kang) connected to a chimney by a tube, and there is no secondary air system to supply oxygen (or heated oxygen) to the burning chamber during burning [ 108 ]. Insufficient ventilation usually reduces the burning efficiency of biomass and increases the emission of PAHs and their adverse effects on human health [ 124 , 125 , 126 ]. Compared with traditional domestic stoves, improved stoves (such as pellet stoves and gasifier stoves) can decrease incomplete combustion due to the advanced ventilation system and stove temperature control system [ 127 ].…”

“…Vicente et al compared the PAHs emitted from biomass burning in fireplaces and woodstoves by burning the same biomass with the same amount of biomass [ 133 ]. In contrast to the fireplace, the woodstove added an extra ventilation pipe to draw fresh air, thereby increasing the air–fuel ratio to reduce incomplete combustion and PAH emissions [ 124 , 125 ]. As a result, burning in the fireplace led to a higher PAH concentration (92.0 ng/m 3 ) than burning in the woodstove (8.82 ng/m 3 ) [ 126 ].…”

Advanced Polymeric Nanocomposites for Water Treatment Applications: A Holistic Perspective

“…There are hundreds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are essentially hydrocarbons containing two or more fused aromatic rings. Partial combustion or burning of carbon-based materials generates hazardous PAHs [43]. They can cause endocrine disruption and are carcinogenic [44].…”

Implementation of proportional–integral control in Baglog steamer temperature control

“…Oyster mushroom cultivation of them, can be done with a steam technique using the drum. Commonly used fuel is firewood which could be assisted by using coal or kerosene or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) gas [9].…”