Field-based emission measurements of biomass burning in typical Chinese built-in-place stoves

Release of Organochlorine Pollutants from Forest Fires: 1. Emission Factors and Revisiting Their Emissions in the Himalayan Regions

Worldwide forest fires have occurred frequently in recent years, a result of which may be the emission of so-called "legacy" organochlorine pollutants (OCPs) accumulated in forests. However, few studies have measured the emission factors (EFs) of the toxicity of the OCPs from forest fires. In this study, the EFs of vegetation burning were observed in forests along the altitudinal gradient from 1000 to 4200 m, and the EFs of ∑DDTs (dechlorodiphenylthrichloroethanes), HCB (hexachlorobenzene), ∑HCHs (hexachlorocyclohexanes), and ∑PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were 2050 ± 1175, 379 ± 409, 48 ± 51, and 65 ± 59 ng/kg, respectively. Re-evaporation was the primary mechanism of the emission of OCP from forest fires. The masses of HCB, β-HCH, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, and PCB-28 in smoke increased 3-7 times compared with those in unburnt vegetation, suggesting the formation of these pollutants by the pyrolysis of biomass or other pollutants. Based on the observed EFs, previously estimated quantities of fire-emitted OCPs in the Himalayan regions were revisited. The DDT emissions from the Himalayan forest fires increased ∼70% compared with the previous estimation (from 19 to 32 kg/year). This highlighted that the EF observations could decrease the uncertainties of estimating OCP emissions from forest fires, which is helpful in revealing the potential roles of forest fires on global POP cycling.

Nitrogen isotope characteristics and importance of NOx from biomass burning in China

Biomass burning is a primary source of atmospheric nitrogen oxide (NOx), however, the lack of isotopic fingerprints from biomass burning limits their use in tracing atmospheric nitrate (NO3-) and NOx. A total of 25 biomass fuels from 10 provinces and regions in China were collected, and the δ15N values of biomass fuels (δ15N-biomass) and δ15N-NOx values of biomass burning (δ15N-NOx values of BB, open burning, and rural cooking stove burning) were determined. The δ15N-NOx values of open burning and rural cooking stove burning ranged from -0.8 ‰ to 11.6 ‰ and 0.8 ‰ to 9.5 ‰, respectively, indicating a significant linear relation with δ15N-biomass. Based on the measured δ15N-NOx values of BB and biomass burning emission inventory data, the δ15N-NOx values of BB in different provinces and regions of China were calculated using the δ15N-NOx model, with a mean value of 5.0 ± 1.8 ‰. The spatial variations in the estimated δ15N-NOx values of BB in China were mainly controlled by the differences in the δ15N-NOx values and the proportions of NOx emissions from various straw burning activities in provinces and regions of China. Furthermore, by using the combined local emissions of biomass burning with regional transportations of NOx based on air-mass backward trajectories, we established an improved δ15N-NOx model and obtained more accurate δ15N-NOx values of BB in regions (2.3 ‰ to 8.4 ‰). By utilising the reported δ15N-NOx values of precipitation and particulate matter from 21 cities in China and the more accurate δ15N-NOx values of BB, the NOx contributions from four sources (mobile sources, coal combustion, biomass burning, and microbial N cycle) at the national scale were estimated using a Bayesian model. The significant contributions of biomass burning (20.9 % to 44.3 %) to NOx emissions were revealed, which is vital for controlling NOx emissions in China.

Potential toxic components in size-resolved particles and gas from residential combustion: Emission factor and health risk

Particulate matter (PM) from residential combustion is an existential threat to human health. Emission factors (EFs) of multiple potential toxic components (PTCs) in size-resolved PM and gas from eight residential fuel combustion were measured, and size distribution, gas/particle partitioning and health risks of the PTCs were investigated. Average EFs from clean coal and anthracite coal were PTEs (sum of EFs of 11 Potential Toxic Elements, 6.62 mg/kg fuels) > PAHs (sum of 22 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, 1.12 mg/kg) > OPAHs (sum of 5 Oxygenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, 0.45 mg/kg) > PAEs (sum of 6 Phthalate Esters, 0.11 mg/kg) > NPAHs (sum of 14 Nitropolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, 16.84 μg/kg) > OPEs (sum of 7 Organophosphate Esters, 7.57 μg/kg) > PCBs (sum of 6 Polychorinated Biphenyls, 0.07 μg/kg), which were 2-3 and 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than the EFs of PTCs (except PTEs) from bituminous coal and biomass. Most PAHs, OPAHs and NPAHs, which may mainly originate from chemical reactions, showed similar size distributions and averagely 85 % concentrated in PM1. PTEs, PAEs, OPEs and PCBs generated from the release from raw fuels may have a higher proportion, so their size distributions were more complex and varied with combustion temperature, volatility of compounds, binding mode of the raw fuels, and so on. In addition, clean coal and high-quality anthracite coal could reduce the health risks from the potential organic toxic components, but also reveal the stumbling block of PTEs in risk control.

Environmental factors driving the formation of water-soluble organic aerosols: A comparative study under contrasting atmospheric conditions

Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), as major fractions of atmospheric aerosols, have gained attention due to their light-absorption properties. To illustrate the sources and key environmental factors driving WSOC formation under different atmospheric conditions, a comparative study was conducted by summarizing the results obtained from five field campaigns at inland (urban, suburban or regional) sites and a coastal site during different seasons. Organic carbon concentrations varied from 8.5 μg/m³ at the summer regional site to 17.5 μg/m³ at the winter urban site, with 46 %- 89 % of the mass as WSOC. Based on correlation analysis, primary combustion emissions were more important in winter than in summer, and secondary formation was an important source of WSOC during winter, summer and autumn. Atmospheric oxidants (NO₂, O₃), aerosol liquid water (ALW) and ambient RH were important factors influencing the WSOC formation, while their roles varied in different atmospheres. We observed a seasonal transition of atmospheric oxidants dominating the WSOC formation from O₃ and NO₂-driven conditions in summer to NO₂-driven conditions in winter. Elevated ALW or ambient RH generally favor the WSOC formation, while the WSOC dependence of ALW varied among different ALW ranges. As the increasing of ALW or ambient RH, a transition of WSOC formation from "RH/ALW-limited regime" under low-ALW conditions, to "RH/ALW and precursor-driven regime" under medium-ALW/RH, and to "precursor-limited (RH/ALW-excess) regime" were observed for the inland atmospheric conditions. Under the high-RH and ALW conditions in coastal areas, ALW or ambient RH was generally not a limiting factor for WSOC formation.

Do Storage Conditions Affect Collected Cookstove Emission Samples? Implications for Field Studies

Cookstove emissions are a significant source of indoor air pollution in developing countries and rural communities world-wide. Considering that many research sites for evaluating cookstove emissions and interventions are remote and require potentially lengthy periods of particulate matter (PM) filter sample storage in sub-optimal conditions (e.g., lack of cold storage), an important question is whether samples collected in the field are stable over time. To investigate this, red oak was burned in a natural-draft stove, and fine PM (PM2.5) was collected on polytetrafluoroethylene filters. Filters were stored at either ambient temperature or more optimal conditions (-20°C or -80°C) for up to 3 months and extracted. The effects of storage temperature and length on stability were evaluated for measurements of extractable organic matter (EOM), PM2.5, and polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC) levels in the filter extracts. A parallel, controlled laboratory condition was also evaluated to further explore sources of variability. In general, PM2.5 and EOM in both simulated field and laboratory samples were similar regardless of the storage condition or duration. The extracts were also analyzed by gas chromatography to quantify 22 PACs and determine similarities and/or differences between the conditions. PAC levels were a more sensitive stability measure in differentiating between storage conditions. The findings suggest that measurements are relatively consistent across storage duration/temperatures for filter samples with relatively low EOM levels. This study aims to inform protocols and filter storage procedures for exposure and intervention research conducted in low- and middle-income countries where studies may be budget- and infrastructure-limited.

Nitrated and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emissions from solid fuel combustion in rural China: Database of 12 real-world scenarios for residential cooking and heating activities

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derivatives such as oxygenated PAHs (oPAHs) and nitrated PAHs (nPAHs), are receiving raising concerns due to their high toxic potential. Incomplete solid fuel combustion can release large quantities of PAHs derivatives, especially in low-efficiency domestic stoves. In this study, field measurements were conducted in rural Chinese homes to determine emissions of nPAHs and oPAHs from solid fuel combustion. A total of 12 fuel-stove combinations including cooking and space heating activities were investigated. Emission factors (EFs) of total nPAHs and oPAHs were in the range of 1.0-682.1 μg/kg and 0.01-131.7 mg/kg, respectively, with arithmetic means and stand deviations of 53.5 ± 72.5 μg/kg and 13.9 ± 24.4 mg/kg, respectively. The EFs of nPAHs and oPAHs for coal combustion (including honeycomb briquette, coal chunk, and peat tested in this study) were 30.2 ± 28.1 μg/kg and 1.5 ± 2.9 mg/kg, respectively, much lower than that for biomass burning (p < 0.05). The combustion phase could significantly affect the PAHs derivative emissions with higher emissions at initial phase than that at stable phase. Fuel type was found to affect the EFs, composition profiles, and ratios of PAHs derivatives to parent PAHs. This study tries to have an insight of PAHs derivative emissions from various solid fuel combustion, which would be useful in understanding the atmospheric PAHs derivative pollutions in China.

Regional monitoring of biomass burning using passive air sampling technique reveals the importance of MODIS unresolved fires

Field-based sampling can provide more accurate evaluation than MODIS in regional biomass burning (BB) emissions given the limitations of MODIS on unresolved fires. Polyurethane foam-based passive air samplers (PUF-PASs) are a promising tool for collecting atmospheric monosaccharides. Here, we deployed PUF-PASs to monitor monosaccharides and other BB-related biomarkers and presented a dataset of 31 atmospheric BB-related biomarkers in the Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) and Southwest China. The peak concentrations of monosaccharides in the ICP occurred before monsoon season. The highest concentrations were in the eastern Mekong plain, while the lowest were along the eastern coast. BB-related biomarkers displayed elevated concentrations after April, particularly in the monsoon season; however, fewer active fires were recorded by MODIS. This revealed the importance of MODIS unresolved fires (e.g., indoor biofuel combustion, small-scale BB incidents, and charcoal fires) to the regional atmosphere. The PAS derived levoglucosan concentrations indicated that, with the inclusion of MODIS unresolved fires, the estimated top-down emissions of PM (4194-4974 Gg/yr), OC (1234-1719 Gg/yr) and EC (52-384 Gg/yr) would be higher than previous bottom-up estimations in the ICP. Future studies on these MODIS unresolved fires and regional monitoring data of BB are vital for improving the modeling of regional BB emissions.

Aqueous secondary organic aerosol formation attributed to phenols from biomass burning

Biomass burning emits large quantities of phenols, which readily partition into the atmospheric aqueous phase and subsequently may react to produce aqueous secondary organic aerosol (aqSOA). For the first time, we quantitatively explored the influence of phenols emitted from biomass burning on aqSOA formation in the winter of Beijing. A typical haze episode associated with significant aqSOA formation was captured. During this episode, aqueous-phase processing of biomass burning promoted aqSOA formation was identified. Furthermore, high-resolution mass spectrum analysis provided molecular-level evidence of the phenolic aqSOA tracers. Estimation of aqSOA formation rate (R_aqSOA) with compiled laboratory kinetic data indicated that biomass-burning phenols can efficiently produce aqSOA at midday, with R_aqSOA of 0.42 μg m^-3 h^-1 accounting for 15 % of total aqSOA formation rate. The results highlight that aqSOA formation of phenols contributes the haze pollution. This implies the importance of regional joint control of biomass burning to mitigate the heavy haze.

Physical, chemical and optical properties of PM2.5 and gaseous emissions from cooking with biomass fuel in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

The current study was designed to capture real-world cooking process-wise emissions generated by the combustion of mixed biomass fuel in traditional mud cookstoves in rural kitchens of the north Indian state of Uttar-Pradesh during regular meal preparations. Combustion characteristics, including modified combustion efficiency, thermal efficiency and burn rate, were examined to understand their relationship with emissions. Variations were observed in emission factors (EFs) of PM_2.5, trace gases, namely CO, CO₂, NO_x and SO_2, for different cooking processes. While the highest emission of PM_2.5, CO and SO₂ were observed for boiling (7.0 ± 2.7, 68 ± 29.3, 1.0 ± 1.7 gkg^-1, respectively), CO₂ and NO_x recorded the highest EFs for frying (1537 ± 278.2 & 1.6 ± 0.9 gkg^-1 respectively). Although the study reported similar carbon content emissions for different processes, high EC emissions were observed for baking (1.1 ± 0.3 gkg^-1). A high concentration of K⁺ (indicating biomass burning) and toxic trace metals including Al, Cu, Sr, Ti, Mo & Cd has been reported in the present study. EFs of black carbon and brown carbon from mixed fuel burning during uncontrolled cooking have been discussed for different cooking processes which are critical inputs to emission inventories and radiative forcing calculation. The processes of frying and sautéing were found to be more consistent in emissions of pollutants than boiling and baking (variability- 13 %-167 %). Overall, this study emphasizes that a measurement of combustion characteristics and cooking method type should also be contemplated along with fuel and stove types during field emission studies.

Characteristics and health risks of parent, alkylated, and oxygenated PAHs and their contributions to reactive oxygen species from PM2.5 vehicular emissions in the longest tunnel in downtown Xi'an, China

A vehicular emission study was conducted in the longest inner-city tunnel in Xi'an, northwestern China in four time periods (I: 07:30-10:30, II: 11:00-14:00, III: 16:30-19:30, and IV: 20:00-23:00 LST). A sum of 40 PAHs, including parent (p-PAHs), alkylated (a-PAHs), and oxygenated (o-PAHs) in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) were quantified. The relationships between the PAHs and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also studied. The average total quantified PAHs concentration was 236.3 ± 48.3 ng m^-3. The p-PAHs were found to be the most dominated group, accounting for an average of 88.1% of the total quantified PAHs, followed by a-PAHs (6.1%) and o-PAHs (5.8%). On the base of the number of aromatic rings, the groups of ≤5 rings (92.5 ± 1.2%) had higher fractions than the high ones (≥6 rings, 7.5 ± 1.2%) for pPAHs. Diurnal variations of PAHs subgroups exhibited the highest levels in Period III, consistent with the largest traffic counts in evening rush hours. However, less reduction of few PAHs in the night period demonstrates that the emissions of compressed natural gas (CNG) and methanol-fueled vehicles cannot be ignored while their contribution increased. High ROS activity levels were observed in the traffic-dominated samples, implying the potential oxidative damages to humans. Additionally, diurnal variation of the ROS activity was consistent with the total quantified PAHs and toxic equivalency of benzo[a]pyrene. Good correlations (R > 0.6, p < 0.05) were seen between individual groups of PAHs (especially for 3-5 rings p-PAHs, 4 rings a-PAHs, and 2-3 rings o-PAHs) and ROS activity, supporting that the vehicular emitted PAHs possibly initiate oxidative stress. The multiple linear regression analysis further illustrated that chrysene contributed the highest (25.0%) to ROS activity. In addition to highlighting the potential hazards to the PAHs from the vehicular emission, their roles to mitigate the health effects by formations of ROS were firstly reported in northwestern China.

Characterization of carbonaceous substances emitted from residential solid fuel combustion using real-world data from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region

Residential solid fuel emissions are among the most important sources of carbonaceous substances that exert harmful effects on air quality, human health and climate change. Considering the constantly updated emission reduction policies for residential solid fuel combustion in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region, the emission data for the source should updated in a timely manner. Testing was performed on residential solid fuel emissions in the BTH region, China. The emission factors and profiles of carbonaceous substances (including organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (EPAHs), methyl PAHs (MPAHs), and n-alkanes) emitted from residential solid fuels were obtained. The results showed the ranges of emission factors of PM_2.5, OC, EC, EPAHs, MPAHs and n-alkanes from residential solid fuel emissions were 1.92-17.6, 0.312-6.85, 0.066-2.33, 0.004-0.58, 0.003-0.87 and 0.009-0.39 g/kg fuel, respectively. The carbon fraction profiles showed that OC1, OC2, and EC1 were the major products of residential solid fuel combustion, and the non-polar organic matter profiles showed that Fluo and MFluo were dominant. The effects of combustion modes, types of stove and types of the fuel on emission characteristics of carbonaceous substances were discussed in detail. The emission factors of carbonaceous substances from the smoldering phase and traditional stove were higher than those from the flaming phase and improved stove, respectively, which was mainly controlled by the modified combustion efficiency (MCE). It was found that the emission factors of pollutants with decreasing MCE values sharply increased, especially when the MCE values were below 90%. Finally, some diagnostic ratios were discussed, and it was determined that residential coal combustion is considered to occur at MPAHs/PAHs higher than 1.5 and MFluo/Fluo higher than 5.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Associations with Wintertime Air Pollution Exposures at Household, Community, and District Scales in Rural Beijing, China

The Chinese government implemented a national household energy transition program that replaced residential coal heating stoves with electricity-powered heat pumps for space heating in northern China. As part of a baseline assessment of the program, this study investigated variability in personal air pollution exposures within villages and between villages and evaluated exposure patterns by sociodemographic factors. We randomly recruited 446 participants in 50 villages in four districts in rural Beijing and measured 24 h personal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and black carbon (BC). The geometric mean personal exposure to PM_2.5 and BC was 72 and 2.5 μg/m³, respectively. The variability in PM_2.5 and BC exposures was greater within villages than between villages. Study participants who used traditional stoves as their dominant source of space heating were exposed to the highest levels of PM_2.5 and BC. Wealthier households tended to burn more coal for space heating, whereas less wealthy households used more biomass. PM_2.5 and BC exposures were almost uniformly distributed by socioeconomic status. Future work that combines these results with PM_2.5 chemical composition analysis will shed light on whether air pollution source contributors (e.g., industrial, traffic, and household solid fuel burning) follow similar distributions.

Identification and monitoring of coal dust pollution in Wucaiwan mining area, Xinjiang (China) using Landsat derived enhanced coal dust index

Coal dust is the main pollutant in coal mining areas. Such pollutants easily diffuse and are difficult to monitor, which increases the cost of environmental pollution control. Remote sensing technology can be used to dynamically monitor mining areas at a low cost, and thus, this is a common means of mining area management. According to the spectral characteristics of various ground objects in remote sensing images, a variety of remote sensing indexes can be constructed to extract the required information. In this study, the Wucaiwan open-pit coal mine was selected as the study area, and the Enhanced Coal Dust Index (ECDI) was established to extract the coal dust pollution information for the mining area. A new mining area pollution monitoring method was developed, which can provide technical support for environmental treatment and mining planning in Zhundong. The results of this study revealed the following: (1) Compared with the normalized difference coal index, the ECDI can expand the difference between the spectral information about the coal dust and the surrounding features, so it has a significant recognition ability for coal dust information. (2) From 2010 to 2021, the coal dust pollution in the study area initially increased and then decreased. With the continued exploitation of the coal mines in the study area, the coal dust pollution area increased from 14.77 km2 in 2010 to 69.49 km2 in 2014. After 2014, the local government issued various environmental pollution control policies, which had remarkable results. The coal dust pollution area decreased to 36.85 km2 and 17.85 km2 in 2018 and 2021, respectively. (3) There was a great deal of pollution around mines and roads, around which the pollution was more serious. Various factors, such as wind, coal type, and the mining, processing, and transportation modes, affect the distribution of the coal dust pollution.

On-site measured emission factors of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for different types of marine vessels

A portable emission sampling system was used to perform on-site measurements of the emission factors (EFs; quantities of pollutants emitted per unit of energy consumed) of 29 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for five types of marine vessels using light diesel in Hainan Province, China. Both gaseous- and particulate-phase PAHs from vessel emissions were sampled and measured using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the PAH EFs were calculated based on the carbon mass balance method. The average EFs of gaseous- and particulate-phase PAHs were 6.2 ± 7.8 and 17 ± 26 mg/kg, with naphthalene (NAP) and phenanthrene (PHE) dominating the gaseous- and particulate-phase PAH emissions, respectively. Among the five types of vessels, the EFs for small fishing boats were significantly higher than those for other types of vessels, and the lowest EFs were found for tug boats. Composition profiles and typical isomer ratios of PAHs were calculated for five types of vessels. Particulate-phase PAHs accounted for 63 ± 16% of the total emissions of 29 PAH species, and the particulate/gaseous-phase partitioning of PAHs was dominated by organic carbon (OC) absorption rather than black carbon (BC) adsorption. Emission factors of PAHs under different activity conditions were measured and calculated, and relatively higher EFs were found in the maneuvering mode for medium fishing boats and in the operating mode for engineering vessels. No significant differences were found among the PAH composition profiles under different activity conditions.

Interrelationship of Indoor Particulate Matter and Respiratory Dust Depositions of Women in the Residence of Dhanbad City, India

Women spend relatively more time in indoor environments in developing countries. Exposure to various indoor air pollutants leads them to higher health risks according to household air quality in which they reside. Particulate matter (PM) exposure with their exposure duration inside the household plays a significant role in women's respiratory problems. This study measured size-segregated particulate matter concentrations in 63 residences at different locations. Respiratory dust depositions (RDDs) for 118 women in their different respiratory regions like head airway (HD), tracheobronchial (TB), and alveolar (AL) regions for the three PM size fractions (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁) were investigated. For different positions like light exercise and the sitting condition, RDDs values found for AL region were 0.091 μgmin^-1 (SD: 0.067, 0.012-0.408) and 0.028 μgmin^-1 (SD: 0.021, 0.003-0.126) for PM₁₀, 0.325 μgmin^-1 (SD: 0.254, 0.053-1.521) and 0.183 μgmin^-1 (SD: 0.143, 0.031-0.857) for PM_2.5, 0.257 μgmin^-1 (SD: 0.197, 0.043-1.04) and 0.057 μgmin^-1 (SD: 0.044, 0.009-0.233) respectively for PM₁ to females. RDDs values in the AL region significantly increase as PM₁₀ (11%), PM_2.5 (68%), and PM₁ (21%), confirming that for women, the AL region is the most prominent affected zone by fine particles (PM_2.5).

Substantial leakage into indoor air from on-site solid fuel combustion in chimney stoves

Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use (SFU) causes millions of premature deaths globally. Direct leakage from stoves into indoor air is believed to be the main cause of severe HAP. However, previous laboratory-based measurements reported leakage of minimal fractions from wood fuel combustion. Using a newly developed measurement method, on-site measurements were conducted to quantitatively evaluate the leakage of gases and particulate matter from different fuel-stove combinations. The fraction of indoor leakage to the total emission (F) of the measured air pollutants varied from 23 ± 11% to 40 ± 16% for different pollutants and fuel-stove combinations, and these were significantly higher than previously lab-based results. Fuel differences overwhelmed stove differences in influencing F values, with higher values from biomass burning than from coal combustion. The particles had higher F values than gases. Fugitive emission rates (ERs) were log-normally distributed, and biomass burning had higher ERs than coal burning. Indoor PM_2.5 (fine particulate matter) and CO (carbon monoxide) concentrations measured during the burning period increased by nearly 1-2 orders of magnitude compared to concentrations before or after burning, confirming substantially high indoor leakage from fuel combustion in cookstoves. High fugitive emissions in indoor cookstoves quantified from the present on-site measurements effectively explain the high HAP levels observed in rural SFU households, and call for interventions to improve indoor air quality.

A critical review of pollutant emission factors from fuel combustion in home stoves

A large population does not have access to modern household energy and relies on solid fuels such as coal and biomass fuels. Burning of these solid fuels in low-efficiency home stoves produces high amounts of multiple air pollutants, causing severe air pollution and adverse health outcomes. In evaluating impacts on human health and climate, it is critical to understand the formation and emission processes of air pollutants from these combustion sources. Air pollutant emission factors (EFs) from indoor solid fuel combustion usually highly vary among different testing protocols, fuel-stove systems, sampling and analysis instruments, and environmental conditions. In this critical review, we focus on the latest developments in pollutant emission factor studies, with emphases on the difference between lab and field studies, fugitive emission quantification, and factors that contribute to variabilities in EFs. Field studies are expected to provide more realistic EFs for emission inventories since lab studies typically do not simulate real-world burning conditions well. However, the latter has considerable advantages in evaluating formation mechanisms and variational influencing factors in observed pollutant EFs. One main challenge in field emission measurement is the suitable emission sampling system. Reasons for the field and lab differences have yet to be fully elucidated, and operator behavior can have a significant impact on such differences. Fuel properties and stove designs affect emissions, and the variations are complexly affected by several factors. Stove classification is a challenge in the comparison of EF results from different studies. Lab- and field-based methods for quantifying fugitive emissions, as an important contributor to indoor air pollution, have been developed, and priority work is to develop a database covering different fuel-stove combinations. Studies on the dynamics of the combustion process and evolution of air pollutant formation and emissions are scarce, and these factors should be an important aspect of future work.

Field-based measurements of major air pollutant emissions from typical porcelain kiln in China

China has been famous for its porcelains for millennia, and the combustion processes of porcelain production emit substantial amounts of air pollutants, which have not been well understood. This study provided firsthand data of air pollutant emissions from biomass porcelain kilns. The emission factor of PM_2.5 was 0.95 ± 1.23 g/kg during the entire combustion cycle, lower than that of biomass burning in residential stoves and coal burning in brick kilns, attributed to the removal effects of the long-distance transport in dragon kilns. The temporal trend of particle pollutants, including particulate matters (PMs) and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (low at ignition phase and high at the end) again indicated the removal effects of the special structure, while gaseous pollutants, such as gaseous PAHs, exhibited the opposite result. The GWC₁₀₀ was estimated as 1.4 × 10⁶ and 0.5 × 10⁶ kg CO₂e/yr for the scenarios in which 50% and 100% of the wood was renewable, respectively. The GWC₁₀₀ of dragon kilns is nearly equal to that of 745 households using wood-fueled stoves. These results indicate the necessity of pollution controls for biomass porcelain kilns to estimate the emission inventory and climate change.

Toward Clean Residential Energy: Challenges and Priorities in Research

Solid fuels used for cooking, heating, and lighting are major emission sources of many air pollutants, specifically PM_2.5 and black carbon, resulting in adverse environmental and health impacts. At the same time, the transition from using residential solid fuels toward using cleaner energy sources can result in significant health benefits. Here, we briefly review recent research progress on the emissions of air pollutants from the residential sector and the impacts of emissions on ambient and indoor air quality, population exposure, and health consequences. The major challenges and future research priorities are identified and discussed.

Composition of a gas and ash mixture formed during the pyrolysis and combustion of coal-water slurries containing petrochemicals

This paper presents the results of experimental research into the component composition of gases and ash residue from the combustion of a set of high-potential coal-water slurries containing petrochemicals. We have established that the use of slurry fuels provides a decrease in the CO₂, CH₄, SO₂, and NO_x concentrations as compared to those from coal combustion. The content of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the gas environment from the combustion of slurries is higher due to the intense water evaporation. It is shown that adding biomass allows a further 5-33% reduction in the emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides as compared to the coal-water slurry and the composition with added waste turbine oil and a 23-68% decrease as compared to coal (per unit mass of the fuel burnt). The mechanisms and stages of CO₂, SO₂, and NO_x formation are explained with a view to controlling gaseous anthropogenic emissions and ash buildup. The values of the relative environmental performance indicator are calculated for slurry fuels. It is shown to exceed the same indicator of bituminous coal by 28-56%.

Impacts of Chinese spring festival on household PM2.5 pollution and blood pressure of rural residents

BACKGROUND

Household air pollution (HAP) from residential combustion considerably affects human health in rural China. Large-scale population migration and rural lifestyle changes during the Spring Festival are supposed to change the household air pollution and health risks; however, limited field study has determined its impacts on HAP and short-term health outcomes.

METHODS

A field study was conducted in rural areas of Southern China before and during the Spring Festival to explore the associations between HAP and blood pressure considering different factors such as cooking fuel, heating fuel, and smoking. Stationary real-time PM_2.5 monitors were used to measure PM_2.5 concentrations of the kitchen, living room, and yard of 156 randomly selected households. Personal exposure to PM_2.5 was calculated based on the results of stationary samplers and corresponding time local residents spent in different microenvironments, and one adult resident was recruited of each family for the blood pressure measurement.

RESULTS

Both personal exposure to PM_2.5 and blood pressures of local residents increased during Spring Festival compared to the days before the holiday. Based on generalized linear model coupled with dominance analysis approach, it was found that personal PM_2.5 exposure was positively associated with the factors of population size and the types of cooking and heating fuels with the relative contributions of approximately 82%, and systolic blood pressure (SBP, 100-120 mmHg as normal range for adults) was positively and significantly associated with personal PM_2.5 exposures with the relative contribution of 11%.

CONCLUSION

The findings in this study demonstrated that Spring Festival can give rise to increase of HAP and hypertension risks, also related to tremendous solid fuel use, suggesting further policy making on promoting cleaner energy in rural areas and more attention on large population migration during national holidays.

In-use emissions and usage trend of pellet heating stoves in rural Yangxin, Shandong Province

The use of coal in Chinese households for winter heating emits harmful pollutants that severely affect indoor air quality and climate. Therefore, China has made efforts to transition into clean heating using improved heating stoves and biomass pellets. Although the economic and policy implications of such demonstration projects have been extensively investigated, little has been done to understand the real-world performance and adoption trends of such stoves. This study measured in-use emissions from nine different pellet stoves used for heating among 52 rural households in Yangxin, Shandong Province. The temperature of the stove chimney of 21 households was monitored and 56 households were surveyed to explore the stove use trend. The particulate and gaseous emission concentrations for most of the stoves exceeded the limits specified in the Chinese national standard. The measured fuel energy-based emission factors (mean ± standard deviation) for CO₂, CO, NOx, and PM_2.5 were 103 ± 3, 1.41 ± 1.19, 0.336 ± 0.237, and 0.146 ± 0.108 g/MJ, respectively. Between January to February, the average daily heating duration was 8.71 h, and the sustained use of heating stoves was seen among over 85% of the households. On average, the households used their heating stoves for 3.28 months and the estimated annual pellets consumption for a household was 2.7 tons. Besides inherent variabilities associated with user habits, the stove's design-related shortcomings and low-grade pellets hindered the performance and effectiveness of pellet stoves. This study provides insights into opportunities and challenges for the promotion of cleaner fuels and heating technologies. Furthermore, it will provide information on emissions from rural residential sources to build the emission inventory and inform policymaking for successful stove promotion programs.

Emissions of particulate PAHs from solid fuel combustion in indoor cookstoves

Residential solid fuel combustion is a major emission source of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in most developing countries, including China; however, accurate estimates of PAH emissions are often challenged by limited real-world emission factors (EFs) under field conditions, which can hardly be repeated in laboratory-controlled tests. In this study, a series of field measurements was conducted to determine the emissions of 28 PAHs from different fuel-stove combinations. A total of 14 fuel-stove combinations were studied. The total EFs of 28 PAHs (EF_PAH28), on the basis of fuel mass, ranged from 20.7 to 535 mg/kg, with relatively lower EFs for coal than for biomass. Biomass burning in gasifier stoves had lower PAH EFs and fewer toxic PAH species than biomass burning in traditional brick stoves. Fuel type was a significant factor affecting PAH emissions, while stove difference had a relatively smaller influence. Much higher EFs were found from these field tests than from the idealized laboratory tests, which indicated significant underestimation in inventories based on the laboratory-based EFs. Biomass and coal had different profiles, with larger intra-fuel variations in coal than those in biomass. Highly variable values of some, though not all, commonly used isomer ratios indicated substantial biases in source apportionment relying on single or simple ratios without correction, and the MCE was found to be significantly corrected with some ratios.

Spatially Resolved Emission Factors to Reduce Uncertainties in Air Pollutant Emission Estimates from the Residential Sector

The residential sector is a major source of air pollutant emission inventory uncertainties. A nationwide field emission measurement campaign was conducted in rural China to evaluate the variabilities of realistic emission factors (EFs) from indoor solid fuel combustion. For a total of 1313 burning events, the overall average EFs (±standard deviation) of PM_2.5 were 8.93 ± 6.95 and 7.33 ± 9.01 g/kg for biomass and coals, respectively, and 89.3 ± 51.2 and 114 ± 87 g/kg for CO. Higher EFs were found from burning of uncompressed straws, while lower EFs were found from processed biomass pellets, coal briquettes, and relatively clean anthracite coals. Modified combustion efficiency was found to be the most significant factor associated with variations in CO EFs, whereas for PM_2.5, fuel and stove differences determined its variations. Weak correlations between PM_2.5 and CO indicated high uncertainties in using CO as a surrogate for PM_2.5. EFs accurately fit log-normal distributions, and obvious spatial heterogeneity was observed attributed to different fuel-stove combinations across the country. Emission estimation variabilities, which are determined by the interquartile ranges divided by the median values, were notably reduced when spatially resolved EFs were adopted in the inventory.

Theoretical equilibration time is supported by measurement study of residence time at dilution sampling on fine particulate matter emissions from household biofuel burning

Household biofuel burning contributes a large proportion of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) emissions in many parts of the world. Dilution sampling has been widely used to characterize PM_2.5 emitted from biofuel burning. The residence time in the dilution chamber is a key parameter for accurate sampling. However, residence time has not yet been adequately characterized for biomass combustion. In this work, we investigated the effects of residence time of dilution sampling on PM_2.5 emissions from a typical Chinese household stove burning typical biofuels including three major crop wastes and one type of wood. The filter based measurements indicated that the emission factors for PM_2.5 and its main chemical components such as OC, EC, Cl^-, and K⁺ did not vary with the residence time over the range of 1-80 s. Theoretical estimation of average time scale for achieving dynamic equilibrium (τ_s) between the gas and particle phase in the dilution sampling system was less than 1 s. Both the measurement study and theoretical simulations indicated that dilution sampling with a residence time of 1s can provide adequately reliable results for PM_2.5 emissions from biofuel burning under the condition of these experiments. A simple way to estimate the equilibration time based on measured average PM_2.5 concentration was proposed. Recommendations are provided for the residence time for dilution sampling of accurate measurements of PM_2.5 emissions from biofuel burning.

Fine particles from village air in northern China in winter: Large contribution of primary organic aerosols from residential solid fuel burning

Rural residential emissions contribute significantly to regional air pollution in China, but our understanding on how residential solid fuel burning influences the village outdoor air quality is limited. In this study, we compared the fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) composition and individual particle characteristics from 11 to 18 January 2017 at a village and an urban site in northern China. At the village site, each day was divided into four periods: cooking (07:30-10:00; 16:00-17:00), daytime (10:00-16:00), heating (17:00-24:00), and midnight (00:00-07:30) periods. The highest PM_2.5 concentration occurred during the cooking period (236 ± 88 μg m^-3), which was characterized by high concentrations of K⁺ and abundant primary OM-K particles (i.e., organic matter mixed with K-salts) emitted from residential biomass burning. The second highest PM_2.5 concentration was found during the heating period (161 ± 97 μg m^-3), and the PM_2.5 contained abundant spherical primary OM particles (i.e., tarballs) emitted from residential coal burning. The primary emissions from residential solid fuel burning resulted in 75% of the village OM by mass consisting of primary OM and 67% of the village aerosol particles by number internally mixing with primary OM particles. The village PM_2.5 composition was different from that of the urban PM_2.5, with the former containing more OM (47% vs 32%) and less secondary inorganic ions (30% vs 46%). Individual primary OM-K and tarballs were abundant in the village air. These results suggest a large contribution of village residential emissions in the winter to village air pollution. Our study highlights that the residential health in villages of northern China should be paid more attention because of high PM_2.5 concentrations and abundant toxic particles during the cooking and heating periods per day in winter.

Optically Measured Black and Particulate Brown Carbon Emission Factors from Real-World Residential Combustion Predominantly Affected by Fuel Differences

Residential solid fuel use is an important source of black carbon (BC) but also a main source of uncertainty in BC emission inventories, as reliable real-world emission factors (EFs) and data on consumption of noncommercial household fuels are limited. In this study, particulate BC and brown carbon (BrC) for real-world indoor coal and biomass burning were evaluated using a SootScan model OT21 optical transmissometer from a field campaign including 343 biomass/coal combustion events. The highest BC EF from the burning of coal cake (a mixed fuel locally made from coal and clay) was 1.6-6.4 higher than that of other fuels, and BC EFs were higher for coal combustion than for biomass burning. The highest particulate BrC EF was from charcoal burning and was 1.5-4.3 times higher than that from other biomass and coals. Burning fuel in iron stoves had lower BC and BrC EFs, at approximately 15-66% and 40-54%, respectively, compared with burning in other stove types. The difference between heating and cooking activities was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). A generalized linear model coupled with dominance analysis evidenced that the EFs were significantly associated with fuel and stove types, with the fuel difference being a major influencing factor explaining 68% of the variation. This suggests that a clean fuel transition would have beneficial impacts on air pollution associated with the residential sector in China. The absorption EFs differed by 2-3 orders of magnitude across different fuel-stove combinations. The Absorption Ångström Exponent values for the particulate from residential solid fuel combustions ranged from 0.92 to 3.7.

Quantifying the relative importance of major tracers for fine particles released from biofuel combustion in households in the rural North China Plain

Biomass burning tracers have been widely used to identify biomass burning types, but such tools can sometimes cause large uncertainties in the source attribution studies of PM_2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter of smaller than 2.5 μm). To quantify the relative importance of the major biomass burning tracers in PM_2.5 released from biofuels combusted in the North China Plain, combustion experiments under the smoldering and flaming combustion conditions were conducted using nine types of typical household biofuels including two types of agricultural wastes, five types of hardwoods, one softwood, and one mixed wood briquette. PM_2.5 samples were collected from the combustion experiments and source profiles of PM_2.5 were thus determined for various biofuels under the two different combustion conditions. Carbonaceous species including organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were the major chemical components of the PM_2.5 released from combustion of all the tested biofuels, with mass fractions of 37-45% and 4-7% under the smoldering condition and 11-25% and 7-29% under the flaming condition, respectively. Higher mass fractions of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs, e.g., K⁺ and Cl^-) in PM_2.5 were observed under the flaming than smoldering combustion condition, while anhydrosugars (levoglucosan (LG) and mannosan (MN)) presented in an opposite pattern. The average LG/MN ratio in PM_2.5 changed significantly with biofuel type (20-55 for agricultural wastes, 10-22 for hardwoods (except elm) and 3-6 for softwood), but varied little with combustion condition. In contrast, the K⁺/LG ratio in PM_2.5 varied significantly between smoldering (<0.2) and flaming (>0.6) combustion conditions for all the biofuel types except softwood. Results from this study suggested that the ratio LG/MN was the best tracer for identifying the biofuel types and the ratio K⁺/LG is suitable for identifying the combustion conditions in this region.

PAHs emissions from residential biomass burning in real-world cooking stoves in rural China

Indoor biomass burning is a major contributor to the emission of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in China. To date, estimates of PAH emissions from the burning of biomass have involved considerable uncertainty, mostly from the lack of real-world measurements of emission factors. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation on PAH emissions from biomass burning in real-world cooking stoves in three Chinese provinces. PAH emission factors, in both particle- and gas-phase, from 11 fuel-stove combinations were measured and the provincial emissions were estimated based on the measured emission factors and fuel consumption. The measured PAH₂₈ emission factors (including 16 US EPA priority PAHs and 12 non-priority PAHs) ranged from 42 mg/kg to 370 mg/kg, with an order of magnitude difference, which was mostly affected by fuel type. The emission factors measured in this study were generally higher than those reported in laboratory studies and were comparable with field studies. The gas-particle distribution indicated that the absorption of PAHs by organic carbon in particulate matter (PM) was the dominant sorption mechanism in gas-particle distribution. The composition profile was different from previous studies, especially for non-priority PAHs, which are highly toxic and should be given more attention. Following the disparities in composition profiles, our study suggests that source apportionment based on single- or multi-diagnostic ratios may lead to large bias and uncertainties. It appears that the toxicity potential of PAHs in northern China emitted from combustion of crop residues is greater than that in southern China where PAHs are mainly emitted from wood combustion.

Air pollutant emission factors of solid fuel stoves and estimated emission amounts in rural Beijing

Solid fuels used for heating and cooking in rural households cause a large amount of pollutant emissions. Actions are being taken to replace these solid fuels with cleaner energy carriers. However, the pollutant emission amounts from solid fuels over large areas have rarely been evaluated. In this study, we tested eight common heating stoves consuming bituminous coal chunk, anthracite coal chunk, and anthracite coal briquette; three honeycomb briquette stoves; and three traditional cookstoves consuming corn straw and wood in rural Beijing. Emission factors of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO_x), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), were measured as 0.08-13.74 g/kg, 10.80-148.5 g/kg, 0.52-8.44 g/kg, and 0-0.85 g/kg, respectively, for coal heating stoves; 0.35-1.11 g/kg, 16.10-109.43 g/kg, 0.51-0.75 g/kg, and 0-1.98 g/kg, respectively, for honeycomb briquette cookstoves; and 5.90-11.79 g/kg, 28.96-50.23 g/kg, 1.52-2.46 g/kg, and 0-0.05 g/kg, respectively, for traditional biomass cookstoves. Combining emission performance and solid fuel consumption, the estimated annual PM_2.5, CO, NO_x, and SO₂ emission amounts were 26.18 Gg, 394.07 Gg, 14.56 Gg, and 1.53 Gg, respectively. The results present useful information regarding the emission inventory of common solid fuels in rural Beijing on a city-scale. This study provides an example for future intervention projects and environment evaluation in the rural areas of other cities.

Reduction in black carbon concentration and its exposure in rural settings of Northern India: An intervention analysis

The present study estimated the concentration of black carbon (BC₁₀ and BC_2.5) during cooking hours in three types of kitchen in ten households and two improved cookstoves (ICS) tested against traditional mud cookstoves (TCS) in the real field conditions. The study also used a community-engaged approach to involve the local public regarding the benefits of intervention. The results clearly revealed that personal BC concentration was highest in an enclosed kitchen (83 μg/m³) while using TCS compared to a semi-enclosed (25 μg/m³) and open kitchens (16 μg/m³), respectively. The results showed that deployment of ICS would help in reduction in personal BC concentration in all the households ranged from 36 to 84% and 33-89% in BC₁₀ and BC_2.5, respectively. The study measured the personal dose of BC concentration for women of all the selected households. The reduction in the exposure dose for personal BC₁₀ and BC_2.5 was 69% and 59%, respectively. The results showed that BC concentration during cooking greatly varies with time-activity pattern of users and which in turn affects the exposure levels of the participants. Thus, it is imperative to measure the exact time users spend near to the emission source to get actual exposure inhalation concentration. The results of the study also shared with the local communities to build their capacity for better understanding about the benefits of advanced cooking technologies, household design to improve the ventilation conditions in the kitchen areas and health benefits in terms of reduction in exposure levels especially for vulnerable group like women and children.

Direct combustion of waste oil in domestic stove by an internal heat re-circulation atomization technology: Emission and performance analysis

Direct use of waste oil as fuel to meet the residential energy demands, is very attractive due to its potentials to decrease fossil fuel consumption, reduce pollution and increase sustainability. This paper uses a domestic stove with an internal heat re-circulation and self-atomization technology to burn yellow waste cooking oil (WCO-1), brown waste cooking oil (WCO-2) and waste lubricant oil (WLO). Emission factors (EFs), energy efficiency and modified combustion efficiency (MCE) of this combined fuel/stove system were determined under space-heating and cooking modes. The results showed that EFs of CO, PM_2.5, total 16 PAHs and corresponding toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values ranged from 2.18 × 10³ to 4.90 × 10³ mg/MJ_net, 16.36-69.40 mg/MJ_net, 2.39-12.93 μg/MJ_net and 0.16-0.92 μg of TEQ/MJ_net. WCO-1 was verified to be the cleanest fuel with the highest energy efficiency (85.3 ± 3.3% and 90.4 ± 2.2%) and lowest emission levels, such as NO (53.75 ± 2.62 and 37.09 ± 5.41 mg/MJ_net), NO₂ (82.40 ± 3.96 and 56.87 ± 8.29 mg/MJ_net) and PM_2.5 (20.94 ± 6.55 and 16.35 ± 5.06 mg/MJ_net) compared to WCO-2 and WLO. The estimated total cost of using waste oil for each household in winter was much cheaper than some current available clean energy means, including only USD$ 400 of stove price and USD$ 250/ton of fuel per year. It is a promising candidate choice for replacing low-quality solid fuels in rural China and 2.62 million rural households would achieve environmental and economic benefits if promoting direct combustion of waste oil for daily heating and cooking.

CO2, CO, hydrocarbon gases and PM2.5 emissions on dry season by deforestation fires in the Brazilian Amazonia

The rate of deforestation in Brazil increased by 29% between 2015 and 2016, resulting in an increase of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of 9%. Deforestation fires in the Amazonia are the main source of GHG in Brazil. In this work, amounts of CO₂, CO, main hydrocarbon gases and PM_2.5 emitted during deforestation fires, under real conditions directly in Brazilian Amazonia, were determined. A brief discussion of the relationship between the annual emission of CO₂ equivalent (CO_2,eq) and Paris Agreement was conducted. Experimental fires were carried out in Western Amazonia (Candeias do Jamari, Rio Branco and Cruzeiro do Sul) and results were compared with a previous fire carried out in Eastern Amazonia (Alta Floresta). The average total fresh biomass on the ground before burning and the total biomass consumption were estimated to be 591 ton ha^-1 and 33%, respectively. CO₂, CO, CH₄, and non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) average emission factors, for the four sites, were 1568, 140, 8, and 3 g kg^-1 of burned dry biomass, respectively. PM_2.5 showed large variation among the sites (0.9-16 g kg^-1). Emissions per hectare of forest were estimated as 216,696 kg of CO₂, 18,979 kg of CO, 1,058 kg of CH₄, and 496 kg of NMHC. The average annual emission of equivalent CO₂ was estimated as 301 ± 53 Mt year^-1 for the Brazilian Amazonia forest. From 2013, the estimated CO_2,eq showed a trend to increase in Amazon region. The present study is an alert and provides important information that can be used in the development of the public policies to control emissions and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazonia.

Field Emission Measurements of Solid Fuel Stoves in Yunnan, China Demonstrate Dominant Causes of Uncertainty in Household Emission Inventories

Emission factors of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM_2.5), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC), as well as combustion efficiency and particle optical properties were measured during 37 uncontrolled cooking tests of residential stoves in Yunnan Province, China. Fuel mixtures included coal, woody biomass, and agricultural waste. Compared to previously published emission measurements of similar stoves, these measurements have higher CO and PM_2.5 emission factors. Real-time data show two distinct burn phases: a devolatilization phase after fuel addition with high PM_2.5 emissions and a solid-fuel combustion phase with low PM_2.5 emissions. The average emission factors depend on the relative contributions of these phases, which are affected by the services provided by the stoves. Differences in stove and fuel characteristics that are not represented in emission inventories affect the variability of emission factors much more than do the type of solid fuel or stove. In developing inventories with highly variable sources such as residential solid-fuel combustion, we suggest that (1) all fuels should be accounted for, not just the primary fuel; (2) the household service provided should be emphasized rather than specific combinations of solid fuels and devices; and (3) the devolatilization phase should be explicitly measured and represented.

Emission Measurements from Traditional Biomass Cookstoves in South Asia and Tibet

Traditional biomass stoves are a major global contributor to emissions that impact climate change and health. This paper reports emission factors of particulate matter (PM_2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), organic carbon (OC), black carbon (EC), optical absorption, and scattering from 46 South Asian, 48 Tibetan, and 4 Ugandan stoves. These measurements plus a literature review provide insight into the robustness of emission factors used in emission inventories. Tibetan dung stoves produced high average PM_2.5 emission factors (23 and 43 gkg^-1 for chimney and open stoves) with low average EC (0.3 and 0.7 gkg^-1, respectively). Comparatively, PM_2.5 from South Asian stoves (7 gkg^-1) was in the range of previous measurements and near values used in inventories. EC emission factors varied between stoves and fuels ( p < 0.001), without corresponding differences in absorption; stoves that produced little EC, produced enough brown carbon to have about the same absorption as stoves with high EC emissions. In Tibetan dung stoves, for example, OC contributed over 20% of the absorption. Overall, EC emission factors were not correlated with PM_2.5 and were constrained to low values, relative to PM_2.5, over a wide range of combustion conditions. The average measured EC emission factor (1 gkg^-1), was near current inventory estimates.

The impact of cookstove operation on PM2.5 and CO emissions: A comparison of laboratory and field measurements

Inefficient biomass combustion in traditional cookstoves generates high levels of household air pollution (HAP) that is associated with numerous adverse environmental and human health conditions. Many cookstoves have been evaluated using laboratory tests, but past studies revealed discrepancies between laboratory and field measurements. Fuel re-loading, a common operation in actual use but not required in the laboratory test, might be a contributing factor to this laboratory-field gap. In this study, we evaluated the pollutant emissions performance of a semi-gasifier cooking stove using both laboratory and field measurements. Emission factors and real-time properties of CO and PM_2.5 were separately measured during the following 4 phases of a typical cooking event: lighting, stable combustion, fuel re-loading and post fuel re-loading. We quantified the CO and PM_2.5 contributions to total cooking event emissions in each phase. We found over 70% lower PM_2.5 emissions and 60% lower CO emissions during 3 no re-loading laboratory tests compared with all 16 field tests. Lighting generated 83.8% ± 15.6% of the total PM_2.5 and 39.1% ± 7.8% of the total CO in laboratory tests without fuel re-loading, and 57.8% ± 33.5% and 37.9% ± 21.2% of the total PM_2.5 and CO in field tests, respectively. On average, fuel re-loading led to 29.1% ± 30.8% of PM_2.5 emissions and 24.9% ± 22.6% of CO emissions in 16 field tests, which also contributed to significant discrepancies between laboratory and field-based emissions. According to the ISO IWA tiered stove ratings for emissions, fuel re-loading led to at least one tier lower ranking in both laboratory and field cookstove tests. Fuel re-loading could be an important factor causing laboratory-field discrepancy of emissions, thus it could be considered in future cookstove selection and intervention projects.