Biomass cookstove emissions: aerosol particle health, climate and environment

A systematic review of 187 articles finds that biomass cookstoves, used by approximately one-quarter of the global population, emit fine, organic carbon-rich particles that pose significant risks. The study reveals that real-world emission factors are consistently higher than laboratory measurements and that most improved or advanced stoves still fall into WHO polluting or transitional categories. The authors argue that current global policies fail to adequately reflect scientific evidence on particle properties.

• Biomass cookstoves are a significant source of air pollution, primarily emitting fine particles rich in organic carbon. Approximately 25% of the global population, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries, continues to rely on these stoves.
• While advanced and improved cookstoves typically produce fewer particles than traditional models, the majority still remain within the World Health Organization's 'polluting' or 'transitional' categories. Furthermore, emissions measured during real-world field use are consistently higher than those recorded in laboratory settings.
• Current global policies regarding cookstoves do not sufficiently incorporate scientific data on particle properties. The study notes that measuring particulate matter alone is inadequate for assessing environmental and health impacts due to gaps in knowledge regarding particle composition and fuel effects.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). Biomass cookstove emissions: aerosol particle health, climate and environment. https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-cookstove-emissions-aerosol-particle-health-climate-environment/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Biomass cookstove emissions: aerosol particle health, climate and environment. 2025. https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-cookstove-emissions-aerosol-particle-health-climate-environment/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Biomass cookstove emissions: aerosol particle health, climate and environment |date=11 April 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-cookstove-emissions-aerosol-particle-health-climate-environment/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025biomass, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Biomass cookstove emissions: aerosol particle health, climate and environment}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/biomass-cookstove-emissions-aerosol-particle-health-climate-environment/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }