Kerosene lighting contributes to household air pollution in rural Uganda
Open accessAbstract
The literature on the contribution of kerosene lighting to indoor air particulate concentrations is sparse. In rural Uganda, kitchens are almost universally located outside the main home, and kerosene is often used for lighting. In this study, we obtained longitudinal measures of particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller in size (PM2.5) from living rooms and kitchens of 88 households in rural Uganda. Linear mixed-effects models with a random intercept for household were used to test the hypotheses that primary reported lighting source and kitchen location (indoor vs outdoor) are associated with PM2.5 levels. During initial testing, households reported using the following sources of lighting: open-wick kerosene (19.3%), hurricane kerosene (45.5%), battery-powered (33.0%), and solar (1.1%) lamps. During follow-up testing, these proportions changed to 29.5%, 35.2%, 18.2%, and 9.1%, respectively. Average ambient, living room, and kitchen PM2.5 levels were 20.2, 35.2, and 270.0 μg/m3. Living rooms using open-wick kerosene lamps had the highest PM2.5 levels (55.3 μg/m3) compared to those using solar lighting (19.4 μg/m3; open wick vs solar, P=.01); 27.6% of homes using open-wick kerosene lamps met World Health Organization indoor air quality standards compared to 75.0% in homes using solar lighting.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
A prior observational study in rural southwest Uganda found that open wick kerosene lamp users had 1.91 times higher living room PM2.5 and 4.7 times higher BC than solar lighting users, after wealth adjustment.
“In an observational study conducted in rural southwest Uganda, participants using open wick kerosene lamps had 1.91 times higher PM2.5 and 4.7 times higher BC concentrations in living rooms as compared to participants using solar-based lighting, even after adjusting for household wealth 19.”
From Effect of a solar lighting intervention on fuel-based lighting use and exposure to household air pollution in rural Uganda: A randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [19]
The Results report 4.72 times higher living-room black carbon levels for open-wick lamps versus solar lighting in a model adjusted for household wealth. They also report 1.91 times higher PM2.5, but only in a sensitivity analysis excluding readings of 500 μg/m³ or above; the main adjusted estimate was 2.53. The claim omits that qualification on the 1.91 figure. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSample size was set to detect a 50% decrease in PM2.5 and BC exposure, using data from the authors' earlier observational study.
“This study was powered to detect a 50% reduction in PM2.5 and BC exposure based on data from our prior observational study of the contribution of fuel-based lighting to household air pollution exposure19.”
From Effect of a solar lighting intervention on fuel-based lighting use and exposure to household air pollution in rural Uganda: A randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [19]
An earlier observational study at this site found that primary lighting source was associated with higher living room PM2.5 and black carbon levels.
“We have previously shown in an observational study at this study site that primary lighting source was associated with higher living room levels of PM2.5 and BC 19.”
From Effect of a solar lighting intervention on fuel-based lighting use and exposure to household air pollution in rural Uganda: A randomized controlled trial (2022) · cites this paper as [19]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis
Wickham, H. (2009) · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-98141-3 · Cited by 14,447 · see citing works
Filmer, D. P., & Pritchett, L. H. (2001) · Demography · doi:10.2307/3088292 · Cited by 5,843 · see citing works
Indoor air pollution in developing countries and acute lower respiratory infections in children
Smith, K. R. (2000) · Thorax · doi:10.1136/thorax.55.6.518 · Cited by 948 · see citing works
Smith, K. R., Bruce, N., Balakrishnan, K., Adair-Rohani, H., Balmes, J., Chafe, Z., Dherani, M., Hosgood, H. D., Mehta, S., Pope, D., et al. (2014) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182356 · Cited by 707 · see citing works
Smith, K. R., McCracken, J. P., Weber, M. W., Hubbard, A., Jenny, A., Thompson, L. M., Balmes, J., Diaz, A., Arana, B., & Bruce, N. (2011) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(11)60921-5 · Cited by 560 · see citing works
Ezzati, M., & Kammen, D. M. (2001) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(01)05777-4 · Cited by 545 · see citing works
Kerosene: A Review of Household Uses and their Hazards in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Lam, N. L., Smith, K. R., Gauthier, A., & Bates, M. N. (2012) · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B · doi:10.1080/10937404.2012.710134 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
Assessment of exposure to traffic related air pollution of children attending schools near motorways
Janssen, N., van Vliet, P., Aarts, F., Harssema, H., & Brunekreef, B. (2001) · Atmospheric Environment · doi:10.1016/s1352-2310(01)00144-3 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Mortimer, K., Ndamala, C. B., Naunje, A. W., Malava, J., Katundu, C., Weston, W., Havens, D., Pope, D., Bruce, N. G., Nyirenda, M., et al. (2017) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)32507-7 · Cited by 323 · see citing works
Kinney, P. L., Aggarwal, M., Northridge, M. E., Janssen, N. A., & Shepard, P. (2000) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.00108213 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
Emissions from Laboratory Combustion of Wildland Fuels: Emission Factors and Source Profiles
Chen, L. ‐. A., Moosmüller, H., Arnott, W. P., Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Susott, R. A., Babbitt, R. E., Wold, C. E., Lincoln, E., & Hao, W. M. (2007) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es062364i · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Ezzati, M., Saleh, H., & Kammen, D. M. (2000) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.00108833 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
van Gemert, F. A., Kirenga, B., Chavannes, N. H., Kamya, M. R., Luzige, S., Musinguzi, P., Turyagaruka, J., Jones, R. C. M., Tsiligianni, I., Williams, S., et al. (2014) · The Lancet Global Health · doi:10.1016/s2214-109x(14)70337-7 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Tuberculosis and Indoor Biomass and Kerosene Use in Nepal: A Case–Control Study
Pokhrel, A. K., Bates, M. N., Verma, S. C., Joshi, H. S., Sreeramareddy, C. T., & Smith, K. R. (2010) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp.0901032 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Household Light Makes Global Heat: High Black Carbon Emissions From Kerosene Wick Lamps
Lam, N. L., Chen, Y., Weyant, C., Venkataraman, C., Sadavarte, P., Johnson, M. A., Smith, K. R., Brem, B. T., Arineitwe, J., Ellis, J. E., et al. (2012) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es302697h · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Adkins, E., Eapen, S., Kaluwile, F., Nair, G., & Modi, V. (2009) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2009.10.061 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Rosa, G., Majorin, F., Boisson, S., Barstow, C. K., Johnson, M., Kirby, M., Ngabo, F., Thomas, E. A., & Clasen, T. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091011 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Fan, C.-W., & Zhang, J. J. (2001) · Atmospheric Environment · doi:10.1016/s1352-2310(00)00399-x · Cited by 102 · see citing works
The State of Ambient Air Quality in Two Ugandan Cities: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Spatial Assessment
Kirenga, B., Meng, Q., van Gemert, F. A., Aanyu-Tukamuhebwa, H., Chavannes, N. H., Katamba, A., Obai, G., van der Molen, T., Schwander, S., & Mohsenin, V. (2015) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph120708075 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
A rapid assessment randomized-controlled trial of improved cookstoves in rural Ghana
Burwen, J., & Levine, D. I. (2012) · Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development · doi:10.1016/j.esd.2012.04.001 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Apple, J., Vicente, R., Yarberry, A., Lohse, N., Mills, E., Jacobson, A., & Poppendieck, D. (2010) · Indoor Air · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00664.x · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Dionisio, K. L., Howie, S. R. C., Dominici, F., et al. (2012) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es203047e · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Particulate emission rates of simple kerosene lamps
Schare, S., & Smith, K. R. (1995) · Energy for Sustainable Development · doi:10.1016/s0973-0826(08)60123-4 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Klasen, E. M., Wills, B., Naithani, N., Gilman, R. H., Tielsch, J. M., Chiang, M., Khatry, S. K., Breysse, P. N., Menya, D., Apaka, C., et al. (2015) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2015.07.012 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Field Testing of Alternative Cookstove Performance in a Rural Setting of Western India
Muralidharan, V., Sussan, T. E., Limaye, S., Koehler, K. A., Williams, D. L., Rule, A. M., Juvekar, S. K., Breysse, P. N., Salvi, S., & Biswal, S. S. (2015) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph120201773 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Ambient Particulate Matter Air Pollution in Mpererwe District, Kampala, Uganda: A Pilot Study
Schwander, S., Okello, C. D., Freers, J., Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Corry, M., & Meng, Q. (2014) · Journal of Environmental and Public Health · doi:10.1155/2014/763934 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Mills, E., & Jacobson, A. E. (2011) · Energy Efficiency · doi:10.1007/s12053-011-9121-y · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Indoor Particulate Matter Associated with Systemic Inflammation in COPD
Bose, S., Hansel, N. N., Tonorezos, E. S., et al. (2015) · Journal of Environmental Protection · doi:10.4236/jep.2015.65051 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [15]World Health Organization 2014 WHO Indoor Air Quality Guidelines: Household Fuel Combustion Geneva 25577935
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Lam, N. L., Muhwezi, G., Isabirye, F., Harrison, K., Ruiz-Mercado, I., Amukoye, E., Mokaya, T., Wambua, M., & Bates, M. N. (2018) · Indoor Air · doi:10.1111/ina.12433 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Sundararajan, R., D’Couto, H., Mugerwa, J., Tayebwa, M., Lam, N. L., Wallach, E. S., Wiens, M. O., Ponticiello, M., Stanistreet, D., Tsai, A. C., et al. (2022) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ac3f05 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Self-citationWallach, E. S., Lam, N. L., Nuwagira, E., Muyanja, D., Tayebwa, M., Valeri, L., Tsai, A. C., Vallarino, J., Allen, J. G., & Lai, P. S. (2022) · Indoor Air · doi:10.1111/ina.12986 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationPathak, A. K., Sharma, M., Katiyar, S. K., Katiyar, S., & Nagar, P. K. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-79023-5 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
- Authors
- Muyanja, D., Allen, J. G., Vallarino, J., Valeri, L., Kakuhikire, B., Bangsberg, D. R., Christiani, D. C., Tsai, A. C., & Lai, P. S.
- Affiliations
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology (UG)
- Harvard University (US)
- Portland State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lai, P. S.
- Venue
- Indoor Air
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-04-10
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1022-1029
- ISSN
- 0905-6947 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5568944
- OpenAlex
- W2593146401
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 1.85
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Indoor Air (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (K23 ES023700, P30 ES000002, K23 MH096620)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH096620)
- American Lung Association (RG-346990)
- Harvard Catalyst (UL1 TR001102)
- Early Clinical Data Support Pilot Grant
- Friends of a Healthy Uganda
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Energy and Environment Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Keywords
- household air pollution, PM2.5, indoor particulate matter, solar lamps, indoor air quality standards, rural households, Uganda
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Carbon, Cooking, Environmental Monitoring, Female, Housing, Humans, Kerosene, Lighting, Respiratory Tract Diseases, Rural Population, Uganda, Air Pollution, Indoor, Inhalation Exposure, Particulate Matter, Soot
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
