Improved Cookstoves Halve Air Pollution Peaks, But Ambient Exposure Dampens Health Benefits
University of Pennsylvania
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Abstract: This working paper evaluates the long-term health and air pollution impacts of improved charcoal cookstove adoption among 1,000 households in Nairobi?s informal settlements. The study finds that improved cookstoves like the Jikokoa can reduce peak cooking-time PM2.5 air pollution by up to 42%, cut charcoal use by 39%, and save households over $100 per year. However, despite these improvements during cooking hours, overall daily air pollution exposure remains high due to ambient urban pollution. Consequently, while self-reported respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, persistent cough) decline significantly, no measurable impacts are observed on chronic health outcomes like blood pressure or blood oxygen. The study underscores the limits of household-level technology in the presence of broader environmental externalities and highlights the need for complementary public interventions.