Abstract
Around one-fourth of the global population lacks access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking, most of them living in low- and middle-income countries. Reliance on rudimentary and inefficient biomass cookstoves results in high pollutant concentrations that adversely affect the health of those exposed to indoor air pollution, the environment, and the climate. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature on aerosol and particle properties from biomass cookstoves of relevance to health, climate and the environment. We identified 187 articles reporting aerosol characterization (i.e., particulate mass or number concentrations, or particle size distributions). Of these, 82 presented detailed particle characterization (e.g., chemical composition). Articles were classified based on the reported particle properties and the study type and location, which allowed mapping research efforts to date, as well as identifying major knowledge gaps. Most studies on particle properties to date have primarily focused on carbonaceous fractionation determination, both under laboratory and field conditions. Findings from this systematic review highlight the need for further studies on particle properties from biomass cookstoves that use a multidimensional approach simultaneously combining several properties and different cookstove-fuel combinations. We also assessed the policy landscape, including the three main global policies concerning biomass cookstove emissions and evaluated whether those policies include the state of the knowledge on particle properties and their adverse effects on human health, climate and the environment. We finally identify key aspects that future policies should integrate as well as critical knowledge gaps that must be filled to advance the overall development of the field. Cookstove manufacturers, practitioners, policymakers, and the overall society will benefit from a solid knowledge base regarding particle properties from biomass cookstoves and their related adverse effects on human health, climate and the environment.
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