How does preparing student meals on polluting biomass stoves in schools affect the health of children and staff in Sub-Saharan Africa? 📖 Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/geCixZ6G

Our latest study published in Elsevier provides one of the first in-depth assessments of this issue in Rwanda and Kenya. Conducted across 7 schools in Rwanda and 4 in Kenya, we measured air pollution in kitchens, classrooms, playgrounds, and personal exposure among staff and students, while also assessing health symptoms and perceptions.

📊 Key insights:

👉 PM2.5 concentrations in school kitchens were up to 19.5 times higher than the WHO 24-hour guideline.

👉Personal exposures were extremely high: cooks experienced 1280 µg/m³ in Kenya and 354 µg/m³ in Rwanda, while children were exposed to 99 µg/m³ in Kenya and 86 µg/m³ in Rwanda. 👉Students and staff reported frequent headaches, eye irritation, and cough.

These findings highlight the urgent need to transition school meal programs to cleaner cooking fuels, protecting the health of children, teachers, and communities.

Congratulations to all the co-authors: Willah Nabukwangwa, Reverien Rutayisire, Esther Kalkman – Boudewijns , Federico Lorenzetti, Emily Nix, Mutariyani Bernard, GOHOLE ARTHUR, Betty Koech, Matthew Shupler, PhD, MPH, Ghislaine Rosa, Elisa Puzzolo (PhD, MSc, MPH) , Prof. Claude Mambo Muvunyi Theoneste Ntakirutimana, Daniel Pope, Dr. Clarisse Musanabaganwa, MSC,PhD, James Mwitari, Vasileios Matthaios