Goals:
The main objectives of this study were to assess levels of indoor air pollution in ICS user households before and after installation of ICS; conduct health impact assessment from the measured level of indoor air pollution, especially on women and children; and document and show if installation of ICS has the expected benefits on health and environment.
Background:
Various government and non-government organizations, as well as private companies and international agencies have initiated different programmes and introduced a variety of technologies to reduce IAP in Nepal. One of the most simple and popular technologies to reduce IAP in rural homes has been the Improved Cook Stoves (ICS). The mud brick ICS is being promoted by the National ICS Programme of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)/Energy Sector Assistance Programme (ESAP) along with many other organizations and so far there are more than 230,000 such stoves in the country. AEPC/ESAP plans to further scale up the application of this technology by installing 500,000 more stoves in the second phase (2007-2012); of which 300,000 are planned to install in its interim target during 2007-2010. Along with promotion, there is also a need for regular monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in order to verify that the expected impacts in terms of stove performance, IAP reduction and health improvement are actually being realized. Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)has thus conducted a study for AEPC/ESAP to assess environmental and health benefits of ICS.
The research carried out two major activities: (i) measurement of 24-hr mean concentrations of two principal indoor air parameters viz; particulate matter of size less than 2.5 micron (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO); and (ii) questionnaire survey and observation for both indoor air pollution and health impact assessment. The study followed the “Before-After” design; hence both pollution measurement and questionnaire survey were conducted twice for each household: first before the installation of ICS and the second after the installation of ICS. PM2.5 was measured using UCB particle monitors while CO was measured using HOBO CO loggers.
Expected Outcome:
The research will establish the effectiveness of mud brick ICS in reducing in indoor air pollution and improving health using a scientific study.
Status:
Data for before installation of ICS was collected from 47 households in three different districts – Dolakha, Dang and Ilam – and the data for after installation of the ICS was collected from 43 of the same households.
The average 24-hr mean PM2.5 concentration was measured to be 2.127 mg/m3 in before phase (with TCS) and that in the after phase (with ICS) was 0.728 mg/m3. The average 24-hr mean CO concentration was measured to be 22.174 ppm with the TCS and 8.349 ppm with the ICS. The average percent change of the IAP concentration between the TCS and ICS were therefore 65.73% for PM2.5 and 62.34% for CO.
ENPHO & AEPC/ESAP is now conducting one more round of monitoring, one year after installation of the stoves.
