The use of wood for cooking remains prevalent in many communities in developing countries, while accessible regional alternatives to wood energy are still limited. Large population in developing countries are at risk of high daily exposure to harmful emissions from firewood smoke. This exposure has been linked to various health effects such as eye defects (cataracts and glaucoma), corneal diseases, trachoma, and ocular trauma, all of which significantly affect socio-economic wellbeing. Measures aimed at identifying comparatively lower-emission wood species may therefore provide a short-term strategy for minimising health risks and environmental pollution. This study characterised and assessed emissions from prevalent firewood species commonly used for cooking, using Nigeria as a case study. Ten (10) randomly collected wood samples were analysed using a pyrolyzer coupled to a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Statistical analysis was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) to group similar emission profiles and identify variables that were strongly correlated. The results revealed that harmful air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were prevalent in the analysed firewood samples. These pollutants are known to have adverse effects on human health, especially among pregnant women and infants. Spondias mombin and Ceiba pentandra exhibited comparatively lower overall emissions dominated by moderate PAH levels, while Brachystegia nigerica demonstrated the lowest total emission profile. In contrast, Gmelina arborea and Annona senegalensis showed PAH-dominant emission profiles despite negligible VOC emissions. Elaeis guineensis , Pterocarpus santalinoides , and Chlorophora excelsa were identified as the strongest overall emitters, characterised by substantial emissions of both VOCs and PAHs. The findings of this study have significant implications for public health policy, particularly in rural areas where firewood remains the primary source of cooking energy. Informed policies addressing the health implications associated with firewood use are essential in advancing cleaner alternative energy sources, improving air quality, and promoting environmental sustainability.
Egwuonwu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.