[Stoves] News - coal and biomass pollution from Bhutan households

[Traveller]

Household air pollution: A public health hazard in rural areas
<http://www.kuenselonline.com/household-air-pollution-a-public-health-hazard-in-rural-areas/>,
Kuensel, 7 Jan 2017

See how WHO IAQ Guidelines combined with the EPA/BAMG "box" mentality cook
up a poisonous brew:

"The dissemination of improved biomass cookstove has the potential to
substantially reduce HAP levels. For example, in Nepal more than 60 percent
reduction in concentrations of PM2.5 (particles < 2.5 μm) and carbon
monoxide (CO) were reported once houses have been disseminated with
improved cookstoves [11]. In Tibet up to 90 percent lower PM2.5 and CO was
observed in houses using improved stoves compared to houses using
traditional open-fire stoves [12]. Likewise, many studies have reported
significant reduction in HAP levels and exposure once improved cookstoves
have been disseminated in rural homes. *However, pollution levels were
still found to be higher than the WHO guidelines, which means improved
cookstoves do not lower the pollutant concentrations to a safe level."*


What business does ISO or GACC have to declare "a safe level" for the whole
world?

Is it the idea that the "safe" level be set arbitrarily so low as to drive
out the biomass and coal industries out of business? That is what EPA has
been doing here in the US, driven simply by ideological fervor of the
Obama/Gore/Clinton/Warren/Sanders factions of the Democratic Party. (I have
mentioned how PM2.5 theology is vulnerable to attacks from law as well as
science.)

Insanity or stupidity? Take your pick.

When sense prevails,

"Although there are health benefits from use of improved cookstoves, a
desired health benefit can only be realised by switching to clean fuels
such as LPG and electricity. Like in other developing countries, for a
rural community in Bhutan, shifting to clean fuels (LPG or electricity) as
primary energy source will remain a challenge. *The prevalence of customary
intensive cooking practices, such as liquor distillation and cattle feed
preparation, limit their use as a primary fuel.* More importantly,
accessibility and affordability associated with LPG in rural areas will
compel people to continue using firewood and other solid fuels. Therefore,
improved cookstoves are important considerations for reducing exposure to
HAP, if proper and sustained use is adopted by users. Alternatively, other
strategies such as improving kitchen ventilation and changing cooking
behaviour can contribute to lower health risks. Educating parents to
minimise the time spent by children inside kitchens during cooking will
lower exposure since pollutant concentrations are high closer to the source
and rapidly decay with distance from the source. Interventions should not
only target on reduction of firewood usage and greenhouse gas emissions but
also to optimise the health benefits from the same"


Meat and alcohol will kill mankind, no? Time to have another round of GBD
with not just air pollution but nutrition.

Nikhil
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