[Stoves] rice husk combustion products

[Kelpie Wilson]

Hi all,
this discussion on small particles and health effects is very interesting.
Thank you Erin for putting together the chart and starting the discussion.
We have been interested in how small biochar particles can fractionate and
under what conditions and whether or not there could be health impacts from
breathing charcoal dust. I have not been able to find any research on the
charcoal dust question as all of the health studies of charcoal workers
focus on breathing the smoke emissions. Does anyone have any literature or
any observation of health impacts on workers in charcoal briquetting
factories, for instance? Any situation where potential impact from breathing
charcoal dust could be separated from the impacts of breathing smoke
emissions?

Of greater concern it seems, is the residuals from rice husk combustion and
gasification. At high temperatures, the carbonized rice husk ash can
crystallize and make a nasty long fiber particle leading to silicosis. But
what happens at the temperature of a rice husk cook stove? Is this ash
dangerous to people? Again, I cannot seem to find any literature on public
health in the rice growing regions that points to a health problem from rice
husk char or ash. Anyone got any info on this?

Many thanks,

-- 
Kelpie Wilson
IBI Project Development Director
www.biochar-international.org
Email: kelpie at biochar-international.org
Home Office: 541-592-3083
Mobile: 541-218-9890
Google Voice: 646-535-7439 (646-kelpiew)
Skype: kelpie.wilson