THE GLOBAL CONTEXT
Worldwide over 2.4 billion people still cook and heat using wood and other biomass.
This dependence contributes significantly to deforestation, anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and health issues from indoor air pollution.
Wood extraction, which includes fuel wood for small-scale cooking and heating, is the 3rd largest cause of deforestation and accounts for 2-3% of human-generated GHG emissions. Exposure to indoor air pollution kills over 1.6 million people per year (1 million children under 5 years).
The Indoor Air Pollution Study Indoor air pollution is a major cause of respiratory disease in developing countries. Women and children are particularly hard hit where cooking is carried out inside the household. In association with CEIHD (Center for Entrepreneurship in International Health and Development), Ugastove carried out a study on indoor air quality in households in Kampala, Uganda. This study measured kitchen concentrations of particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO). Each home was monitored during a 24 hour period while typical cooking was performed with the Ugastove rocket stove, and then during a 24 hour period while typical cooking was performed with the traditional three-stone fire.