Effectiveness of Improved Cookstoves to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution in Developing Countries. The Case of the Cassamance Natural Subregion, Western Africa
The Spanish NGO “Alianza por
la Solidaridad” has installed improved cookstoves in 3000 households during
2012 and 2013 to improve energy efficiency reducing fuelwood consumption and to
improve indoor air quality. The type of cookstoves were Noflaye Jeeg and
Noflaye Jaboot and were installed in the Cassamance Natural Subregion covering
part of Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. The Technical University of
Madrid (UPM) has conducted a field study on a sample of these households to
assess the effect of improved cookstoves on kitchen air quality. Measurements
of carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particle matter (PM2.5) were taken for 24-hr
period before and after the installation of improved cookstoves. The 24-hr mean
CO concentrations were lower than the World Health Organization (WHO)
guidelines for Guinea-Bissau but higher for Senegal and Gambia, even after the
installation of improved cookstoves. As for PM2.5 concentrations, 24-hr mean
were always higher than these guidelines. However, improved cookstoves produced
significant reductions on 24-hr mean CO and PM2.5 concentrations in Senegal and
for mean and maximum PM2.5 concentration on Gambia. Although this variability
needs to be explained by further research to determine which other factors
could affect indoor air pollution, the study provided a better understanding of
the problem and envisaged alternatives to be implemented in future phases of
the NGO project.
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