Impact of the wood-burning Justa cookstove on fine particulate matter exposure

“The Justa stove intervention substantially lowered personal and kitchen PM2.5 and may be a provisional solution that is feasible for Latin American communities where cleaner fuels may not be available, affordable, or acceptable for some time.”

This three-year randomized trial on Justa cookstoves was conducted in Honduras by Trees, Water and People and Colorado State University.

U.S. EPA & Aprovecho Research Center: In-Field Ecocina Study

“There was an average particulate matter reduction of 78% from the traditional three stone fire to the Ecocina.”

Oregon State University: A case study of Ecocina cookstove adoption in rural Honduras

“Self- reported health and safety measures showed approximately 85-93% less occurrence of negative health impacts such as burns, eye irritations, coughing and sneezing, and shortness of breath.”

Aprovecho Research Center: Testing the Ecocina

“The Ecocina produced only 1/3rd of both the carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions compared to the laboratory three-stone fire.”

StoveTeam: Use and Adoption of the Ecocina and Ecoplancha

“In Las Brisas, 86% of households indicated a preference for the Ecoplancha III and 14% indicated a preference for the traditional fire.”

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: HOUSEHOLD AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH

“[Household air pollution] accounts for about 50% of childhood pneumonia deaths (the largest cause of death in children under 5 years)… [and is] a major cause of NCDs (non-communicable diseases):

• 30% of COPD deaths

• 18% of ischaemic heart disease deaths

• Almost 10% of lung cancer deaths

Exposure has been linked with other health outcomes including: Stroke, other cancers (e.g. cervical, upper-aerodigestive), adverse pregnancy outcomes, cataract, tuberculosis, [and] cognitive development.”

ElSevier: CO2 exposure affects neurodevelopmental performance in children

“This seems to be the first study on woodsmoke exposure and neurodevelopment, and the first longitudinal birth cohort study on chronic early life CO exposures…”

“Our results are consistent with previous epidemiological studies on air pollution and neurodevelopment (Edwards et al., 2010; Perera et al., 2006, 2009). Edwards et al. (2010) found that non-verbal intelligence measured on Raven’s Progressive Color Matrices (RPCM) was inversely associated with maternal 3rd trimester personal 48-h PAH exposures…”

Environmental Health Perspectives: Who Adopts Improved Fuels and Cookstoves?

“We contend that there is a need to consider an updated theory of diffusion and adoption in which household drivers such as income, information, and attitudes are modified by a) underlying socio-psychological drivers... and b) specific programs and policies such as… subsidies, c) product commercialization such as social marketing, cheap credit, alternative fuels, supply-chain strengthening, and d) the capacity and interest of local officials and nongovernmental organizations.”

GIZ: Improved Cooking Stoves Save Lives

“Not only does the inefficient burning of biomass in private households pose such a serious health threat to… women and children; biomass is also becoming increasingly scarce and costly.”