Combustion-derived nanoparticle exposure and household solid fuel use in Xuanwei and Fuyuan, China

Combustion-derived nanoparticles (CDNPs) have not been readably measurable until recently. We conducted a pilot study to determine CDNP levels during solid fuel burning. The aggregate surface area of CDNP (μm²/cm ³) was monitored continuously in 15 Chinese homes using varying fuel types (i.e. bituminous coal, anthracite coal, wood) and stove types (i.e. portable stoves, stoves with chimneys, firepits). Information on fuel burning activities was collected and PM_2.5 levels were measured. Substantial exposure differences were observed during solid fuel burning (mean: 228.1μm²/cm³) compared to times without combustion (mean: 14.0μm²/cm³). The observed levels during burning were reduced by about four-fold in homes with a chimney (mean: 92.1m ²/cm³; n= 9), and effects were present for all fuel types. Each home's CDNP measurement was only moderately correlated with the respective PM_2.5 measurements (r ²= 0.43; p= 0.11). Our results indicate that household coal and wood burning contributes to indoor nanoparticle levels, which are not fully reflected in PM_2.5 measurements.