title: Biogas Stoves Reduce Firewood Use, Household Air Pollution, and Hospital Visits in Odisha, India.
abstract: Traditional cooking using biomass is associated with ill health, local environmental degradation, and regional climate change. Clean stoves (liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, and electric) are heralded as a solution, but few studies have demonstrated their environmental health benefits in field settings. We analyzed the impact of mainly biogas (as well as electric and LPG) stove use on social, environmental, and health outcomes in two districts in Odisha, India, where the Indian government has promoted household biogas. We established a cross-sectional observational cohort of 105 households that use either traditional mud stoves or improved cookstoves (ICS). Our multidisciplinary team conducted surveys, environmental air sampling, fuel weighing, and health measurements. We examined associations between traditional or improved stove use and primary outcomes, stratifying households by proximity to major industrial plants. ICS use was associated with 91% reduced use of firewood (p < 0.01), substantial time savings for primary cooks, a 72% reduction in PM2.5, a 78% reduction in PAH levels, and significant reductions in water-soluble organic carbon and nitrogen (p < 0.01) in household air samples. ICS use was associated with reduced time in the hospital with acute respiratory infection and reduced diastolic blood pressure but not with other health measurements. We find many significant gains from promoting rural biogas stoves in a context in which traditional stove use persists, although pollution levels in ICS households still remained above WHO guidelines.
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Jessica J
authors: JJ
authors: Lewis
authors: Department of Medicine, Duke University , 106 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Hollingsworth
authors: RTI International , 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States.
authors: Ryan T
authors: RT
authors: Chartier
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Ellen M
authors: EM
authors: Cooper
authors: Department of Medicine, Duke University , 106 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States.
authors: William Michael
authors: WM
authors: Foster
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Genna L
authors: GL
authors: Gomes
authors: Department of Medicine, Duke University , 106 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States.
authors: Peter S
authors: PS
authors: Kussin
authors: Memorial University , St. John's, P.O. Box 4200, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada.
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: MacInnis
authors: Asian Institute of Public Health , 1037, Sriram Nagar, Old Town, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751002, India.
authors: Bijaya K
authors: BK
authors: Padhi
authors: Center for Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center , 984341 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska 68198, United States.
authors: Pinaki
authors: P
authors: Panigrahi
authors: RTI International , 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States.
authors: Charles E
authors: CE
authors: Rodes
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Ian T
authors: IT
authors: Ryde
authors: CTRAN Consulting , A1-A2, Lewis Plaza, Lewis Road, Bhubaneswar 751014, India.
authors: Ashok K
authors: AK
authors: Singha
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Heather M
authors: HM
authors: Stapleton
authors: RTI International , 3040 East Cornwallis Road, Durham, North Carolina 27701, United States.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Thornburg
authors: Memorial University , St. John's, P.O. Box 4200, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada.
authors: Cora J
authors: CJ
authors: Young
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Joel N
authors: JN
authors: Meyer
authors: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University , 450 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.|Sanford School of Public Policy , 201 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors: Subhrendu K
authors: SK
authors: Pattanayak
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D056804:Biofuels; D057231:Climate Change; D003296:Cooking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels