London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Mission

The Department of Social and Environmental Health Research at LSHTM focuses on the social and environmental determinants of health and the evaluation and analysis of public health policy. Research under the Environment and health Stream includes the identification of environmental health risks as well as the development and assessment of environmental health policies in both low and high income countries. Research on indoor air pollution from biomass fuel use is carried out by staff and research degree students.

Organization Type Academia

Contact Information

Primary Contact
 Dr. Cathryn Tonne
 Secondary Contact
 Ms. Caroline Ochieng
Address Department of Social and Environmental Health Research
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine,
London, 15-17 Tavistock Place
WC1H 9SH
United Kingdom 		Website www.lshtm.ac.uk/
Phone +44 (0) 20 7927 4759
Fax +44 20 7580 4524
Calling/Fax Instructions

Our Focus

Primary Initiatives, Target Populations, and Scope of Work:

We have an ongoing study in Kenya that is evaluating the effectiveness of improved biomass stoves in reducing indoor air pollution and personal exposure to CO and PM. The study is also assessing factors that lead to adoption and use of improved stoves, and barriers to implementation of improved stoves programmes. The study is based in Siaya District in Kenya. It is a collaboration between LSHTM and GTZ-PSDA.

Fuels/Technologies: Biomass
 Sectors of Experience: Environment
Health
 Countries of Operation: India
United Kingdom

Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas

Social/Cultural barriers to using traditional fuels and stoves:

These factors have been investigated through questionnaires and focus group discussion with stove users in rural Kenya.

Market development for improved cooking technologies:

No input

Technology standardization for cooking, heating and ventilation:

No input

Indoor air pollution exposure and health monitoring:

We have monitored the levels of PM 2.5 and CO in 100 homes in Siaya, Kenya. We have also measured and assessed personal exposure to CO in 100 women and children below 5 years of age.

For CO measurements we used Lascer CO data loggers. PM levels were measured using Indoor Air Pollution Meter and Dust-traks. Gravimetric measurements were taken using 37 mm glass fibre filters.

The study has employed both cross-sectional and before-after study designs. The data is being analysed.

Relevant Publications or Studies

Wilkinson, P., K. R. Smith, P. Wilkinson, K. Smith, M. Davies, H. Adair, B. Armstrong, M. Barrett, N. Bruce, A. Haines, I. Hamilton, T. Oreszczyn, I. Ridley, C.Tonne and Z. Chalabi (2009). "Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: household energy." The Lancet 374(9705): 1917-1929.

Wilkinson, P.; Smith, K.R.; Beevers, S.; Tonne, C.; Oreszczyn, T.; Energy, energy efficiency, and the built environment. Lancet, 2007; 370(9593):1175-87

Vardoulakis, S; Phoon, X and Ochieng, C. (2010). Health Effects of Air Pollutants. In M. Lazaridis and I. Colbeck (Eds.). Human Exposure to Pollutants via Dermal Absorption and Inhalation Environmental Pollution, 2010, Volume 17, 143-184. Springer

Our Contribution to the Partnership

We wish to share knowledge on air pollution exposure monitoring, learn from the experience of other partners who have monitored pollution from cooking practices and their health impacts, and possibly collaborate in future projects.