TY - JOUR
T1 - Indoor air pollution from burning yak dung as a household fuel in Tibet
AU - Xiao, Qingyang
AU - Saikawa, Eri
AU - Yokelson, Robert J.
AU - Chen, Pengfei
AU - Li, Chaoliu
AU - Kang, Shichang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 The Authors.
PY - 2015/2/1
Y1 - 2015/2/1
N2 - Yak dung is widely used for cooking and heating in Tibet. We measured real-time concentrations of black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5μm or less (PM2.5) emitted by yak dung burning in six households with different living conditions and stove types in the Nam Co region, Tibet. We observed a much lower average BC/PM2.5 mass ratio (0.013, range 0.006-0.028) from dung combustion in this area than previously reported estimates, ranging between 0.05 and 0.11. Based on our measurements, estimated fuel use, and published emission factors of BC and PM2.5, about 0.4-1.7Gg/year of BC is emitted by yak dung combustion in Tibet in addition to the previously estimated 0.70Gg/year of BC for Tibetan residential sources. Our survey shows that most residents were aware of adverse health impacts of indoor yak dung combustion and approximately 2/3 of residents had already installed chimney stoves to mitigate indoor air pollution. However, our measurements reveal that, without adequate ventilation, installing a chimney may not ensure good indoor air quality. For instance, the 6-h average BC and PM2.5 concentrations in a stone house using a chimney stove were 24.5 and 873μg/m3, respectively. We also observed a change in the BC/PM2.5 ratios before and after a snow event. The impact of dung moisture content on combustion efficiency and pollutant emissions needs further investigation.
AB - Yak dung is widely used for cooking and heating in Tibet. We measured real-time concentrations of black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5μm or less (PM2.5) emitted by yak dung burning in six households with different living conditions and stove types in the Nam Co region, Tibet. We observed a much lower average BC/PM2.5 mass ratio (0.013, range 0.006-0.028) from dung combustion in this area than previously reported estimates, ranging between 0.05 and 0.11. Based on our measurements, estimated fuel use, and published emission factors of BC and PM2.5, about 0.4-1.7Gg/year of BC is emitted by yak dung combustion in Tibet in addition to the previously estimated 0.70Gg/year of BC for Tibetan residential sources. Our survey shows that most residents were aware of adverse health impacts of indoor yak dung combustion and approximately 2/3 of residents had already installed chimney stoves to mitigate indoor air pollution. However, our measurements reveal that, without adequate ventilation, installing a chimney may not ensure good indoor air quality. For instance, the 6-h average BC and PM2.5 concentrations in a stone house using a chimney stove were 24.5 and 873μg/m3, respectively. We also observed a change in the BC/PM2.5 ratios before and after a snow event. The impact of dung moisture content on combustion efficiency and pollutant emissions needs further investigation.
KW - Black carbon
KW - Cookstove
KW - Indoor air pollution
KW - Particulate matter
KW - Yak dung
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84920896695&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.11.060
DO - 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.11.060
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84920896695
SN - 1352-2310
VL - 102
SP - 406
EP - 412
JO - Atmospheric Environment
JF - Atmospheric Environment
ER -