Improved cookstoves in Central America: health impacts and uptake

The document examines the use of improved cookstoves in Central America, noting that while many models meet WHO emission targets in labs, they often fail to significantly reduce personal pollutant exposure in the field due to 'stove stacking' and improper use. It identifies the 'plancha' as the most common model and highlights that successful adoption depends on user-centered design, training, and cost-sharing. The report calls for standardized performance measures and national certification bodies to ensure health benefits are actually realized.

• Household air pollution causes 37,000 premature deaths annually in Central America, primarily affecting women and children. In 2010, lower respiratory infections were the leading cause of premature mortality and disability in Guatemala.
• An analysis of 34 stove models showed that they reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by an average of 59% and particulate matter (PM) by 95% relative to open fires, suggesting they meet WHO guidelines for household fuel combustion.
• There is a significant gap between laboratory emission reductions and actual reductions in personal exposure. For example, the RESPIRE study in Guatemala found a 90% reduction in indoor CO concentrations but only a 50% reduction in personal exposure due to factors like stove-tending practices and 'stove stacking'.
• The 'plancha' cookstove with a chimney is the most widely adopted model in the region. High costs for low-income households are partly driven by the need for a griddle (plancha) to bake tortillas, a regional staple.
• Successful adoption of improved cookstoves (with rates between 69% and 100% in six identified programmes) is driven by user-centered design, prior installation training, community involvement, cost-sharing, and available after-sale services.
• The region lacks comprehensive longitudinal data on cookstove adoption and field performance. Only 5 of the 34 reviewed stoves (approximately 15%) were certified by a third party, with most data relying on self-reporting by project implementers.

APA

Lambe, F. (2015). Improved cookstoves in Central America: health impacts and uptake. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2015-cookstoves-central-america.pdf

Chicago

Lambe, Fiona. Improved cookstoves in Central America: health impacts and uptake. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2015. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2015-cookstoves-central-america.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lambe |first1=Fiona |title=Improved cookstoves in Central America: health impacts and uptake |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2015 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2015-cookstoves-central-america.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lambe2015improved, author = {Lambe, Fiona}, title = {{Improved cookstoves in Central America: health impacts and uptake}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2015}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-DB-2015-cookstoves-central-america.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }