Grantee Research Project Results
2016 Progress Report: How will cleaner cooking and lighting practices impact regional air quality and climate in the Sahel of Africa?
EPA Grant Number: R835424Title: How will cleaner cooking and lighting practices impact regional air quality and climate in the Sahel of Africa?
Investigators: Hannigan, Michael P. , Oduro, Abraham , Wiedinmyer, Christine , Dickinson, Katie , Dukic, Vanja
Current Investigators: Hannigan, Michael P. , Dukic, Vanja , Wiedinmyer, Christine , Dickinson, Katie , Hayden, Mary , Monaghan, Andrew
Institution: University of Colorado at Boulder , Navrongo Health Research Center , National Center for Atmospheric Research
Current Institution: University of Colorado at Boulder , National Center for Atmospheric Research , Navrongo Health Research Center
EPA Project Officer: Keating, Terry
Project Period: June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2017 (Extended to December 31, 2018)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2016 through May 31,2017
Project Amount: $1,500,000
RFA: Measurements and Modeling for Quantifying Air Quality and Climatic Impacts of Residential Biomass or Coal Combustion for Cooking, Heating, and Lighting (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Tribal Environmental Health Research , Air , Climate Change
Objective:
The overarching goal for this proposed work is to develop a better understanding of the social, physical, and climatological determinants of regional emissions and air quality linked to cooking and lighting practices in the African Sahel. To reach that goal we have four specific objectives: (1) test hypotheses about the impact of different cooking technologies on behavior and emissions at the local scale, (2) develop a comprehensive set of emissions measurements from traditional cooking and lighting practices, as well as from cleaner burning alternatives, (3) develop realistic scenarios of regional-scale technology adoption and emissions by scaling up the observed social data and derived emissions relationships, and (4) assess how clean cooking and lighting practices could impact regional air quality and climate.
Progress Summary:
During the third year, we completed, submitted and passed peer review on four journal articles, continued to push forward on collection and analysis of additional emission samples pushing beyond residential cooking to lighting, trash burning, diesel generators, commercial cooking, charcoal making and motor vehicles as well as incorporating the newly generated emission factors into the Diffuse and Inefficient Combustion Emissions in Africa (DICE) emissions inventory. Below we highlight an interesting finding from each of the three analysis pathways: ambient and personal exposure measurements, emissions measurements, and continental scale air quality modeling.
Ambient and Personal Monitoring
We collected personal, cooking area and ambient PM2.5 filter samples in rural and urban areas in northern Ghana. Each filter collected PM for 48 hrs and was analyzed for elemental carbon (EC), total organic carbon (OC) and organic molecular marker species. were then able to use those chemical analyses as input to a PM2.5 source apportionment model, specifically we used positive matrix factorization (PMF). Using PMF, we identified six PM sources. The identified source factors were similar among the ambient and personal exposure data sets, as well as with previous work in Navrongo. Two sources, one characterized by the presence of methoxyphenols, and one by the presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and EC, were associated with biomass burning, and accounted for a median of 9.2% of OC and 15.3% of EC personal exposure. This result further emphasized the need to explore non-residential cooking emission sources in this region.
Emissions Measurements
In northern Ghana, we conducted 75 in-field uncontrolled cooking test to assess the emissions and heat transfer efficiency of traditional and two improved cookstoves (Philips gasifier stove and a Gyapa, Ghanaian made rocket stove). We found that, when compared to traditional stove/fuel combinations, the Philips burning wood or charcoal showed significant fuel and energy based emission factor differences for CO, but no significant PM changes with wood fuel. Modified combustion efficiencies were significantly higher for Philips wood and charcoal-burning stoves compared to the threestone fire and coalpot. The Gyapa emitted significantly higher ratios of elemental to organic carbon.
Continental Scale Air Quality Modeling
We were able to incorporate the new emission factors in the DICE inventory and then use that inventory in the GEOS-CHEM global atmospheric chemistry model to explore the impact that three high-level emissions reduction scenarios would have on premature deaths associated with PM2.5 in Africa. We found that in some countries, a shift towards cleaner residential cooking and heating would be the best way to mitigate premature deaths, while in others, a shift towards renewable electricity generation would be critical.
Future Activities:
We requested and were granted a 1 year no-cost extension. For 2017/2018, we anticipate the completion of the source emissions analysis and the subsequent use of the results to drive an ambient PM2.5 source apportionment analysis as well as to be integrated into GEOS-CHEM runs for Africa.
Journal Articles on this Report : 5 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 17 publications | 11 publications in selected types | All 11 journal articles |
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Coffey ER, Muvandimwe D, Hagar Y, Wiedinmyer C, Kanyomse E, Piedrahita R, Dickinson K, Oduro A, Hannigan MP. New emission factors and efficiencies from in-field measurements of traditional and improved cookstoves and their potential implications. Environmental Science & Technology 2017;51(21):12508-12517. |
R835424 (2016) |
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Lacey FG, Marais EA, Henze DK, Lee CJ, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Hannigan MP, Wiedinmyer C. Improving present day and future estimates of anthropogenic emissions and the resulting air quality impacts in Africa. Faraday Discussions 2017;200:397-412. |
R835424 (2016) |
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Masson N, Piedrahita R, Hannigan M. Quantification method for electrolytic sensors in long-term monitoring of ambient air quality. Sensors 2015;15(10):27283-27302. |
R835424 (2016) |
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Piedrahita R, Kanyomse E, Coffey E, Xie M, Hagar Y, Alirigia R, Agyei F, Wiedinmyer C, Dickinson KL, Oduro A, Hannigan M. Exposures to and origins of carbonaceous PM2.5 in a cookstove intervention in Northern Ghana. Science of the Total Environment 2017;576:178-192. |
R835424 (2016) |
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Wiedinmyer C, Dickinson K, Piedrahita R, Kanyomse E, Coffey E, Hannigan M, Alirigia R, Oduro A. Rural-urban differences in cooking practices and exposures in Northern Ghana. Environmental Research Letters 2017;12(6):065009 (10 pp.). |
R835424 (2016) R835424 (Final) |
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Relevant Websites:
http://www.reaccting.com/ Exit Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.