Microplastics in Particulate Matter from Kitchen Air: A Comparison of Rocket and Traditional Stoves
Keywords:
Traditional stoves, Improved stoves, Microplastic, startup fuels, Indoor air pollutionAbstract
Indoor air pollution in rural and resource-constrained households is primarily caused by the use of biomass fuel in cookstoves, a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality throughout the world. This study uniquely investigates indoor microplastic pollution from cookstove emissions in Pakistani slums, as plastic has been identified as one of the major tertiary fuels used to start cookstoves, addressing a major research gap. Unlike previous local studies focused on outdoor air, this study identifies and characterizes polymeric particles in PM10 and PM2.5 from 2 different cookstoves, using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, offering first-time molecular evidence in this context. Particulate matter (PM) samples were collected both from the traditional and the locally manufactured rocket biomass cookstove kitchens, within H-11 and F-11 slums in Islamabad, Pakistan. Two analytical techniques, Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to identify and characterize microplastics in PM₁₀ and PM2.5 samples. The detected polymers included polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyolefins, and polyurethanes. At Site 2, LDPE, polyolefins, and polypropylene were identified. Results from the comparative analysis of traditional and rocket stoves in PM10 and PM2.5 samples revealed a significant difference in the concentration of particulate matter contamination at both sites. The findings from this study indicate that the rocket stove had a lower concentration of particulate matter in PM10 and PM2.5 samples as compared to the traditional stove, which may suggest that microplastic concentration was also lower, thereby offering enhanced potential health benefits for users, as inhalation and continuous exposure to microplastics are associated with adverse health effects. Overall, ICS reduced PM10 concentrations by 38.73% and PM2.5 concentrations by 34.75% across both monitored sites. This study emphasizes the importance of using rocket stoves as they offer a superior alternative to traditional stoves by reducing particulate matter and microplastic exposure, making them a cleaner and safer cooking option in slum areas.
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