Improved cookstoves in Central America: health impacts and uptake

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the health impacts and adoption rates of improved cookstoves in Central America. It highlights a gap between laboratory emission reductions and actual personal exposure reductions, identifies key drivers for successful technology uptake, and recommends the establishment of standardized performance measures and national certification bodies to improve public health outcomes.

• Household air pollution causes 37,000 premature deaths annually in Central America, primarily affecting women and children. In Guatemala, lower respiratory infections were the leading cause of premature mortality and disability in 2010.
• Analysis of 34 stove models in Central America shows that, on average, they reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 59% and particulate matter (PM) by 95% compared to open fires. All reviewed stoves met WHO guidelines for household fuel combustion, though most were uncertified.
• There is a significant discrepancy between stove 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 commonly adopted model in the region. Successful adoption (ranging from 69% to 100%) is linked to user-centered design, prior training, community involvement, cost-sharing, and available after-sale service.
• Improved cookstoves in Central America are often more expensive than in other regions because they must include a 'plancha' (griddle) to allow households to bake tortillas, a regional staple.
• The region lacks comprehensive longitudinal studies on household adoption and field performance, with most data being self-reported by project implementers. Only five of the 34 reviewed stoves had been evaluated by a third party.

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} }