A clean-burning biofuel as a response to adverse impacts of woodsmoke and coalsmoke on Navajo health

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:135705

Shultz, Jr, E B; Bragg, W G ^[1]; Whittier, J ^[2]

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1. Enable International, Wheaton, IL (United States)
2. NEOS Corporation, Lakewood, CO (United States); and others

Because over 60% of Navajo households are heated with woodfuel and coal, and indoor air pollution from woodsmoke and coalsmoke is problematic, most Navajos are probably at risk of respiratory and other smoke-induced illnesses. A previous study has shown that Navajo children living in homes heated by a wood/coal stove are nearly five times more likely to contract acute lower respiratory tract infections than children from homes that do not use those fuels. Stove and flue improvements to reduce leakage of smoke into the home would help. So would clean-burning solid fuels in replacement of woodfuel and coal. The authors describe a clean-burning fast-growing carbohydrate biofuel, prepared by sun-drying the roots of a wild southwestern gourd plant, Cucurbita foetidissima. They call it {open_quotes}rootfuel.{close_quotes} A test plot is growing during the 1994 season at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center on the Navajo Nation, near Farmington, New Mexico. Irrigation requirements are being measured. In the Fall, a preliminary needs assessment will be conducted to learn more about how fuel usage impacts Navajo health. The acceptability of rootfuel in selected homes will be tested during the upcoming heating season.

• OSTI ID: 135705
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410176--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
BUFFALO GOURD
COAL
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
HEALTH HAZARDS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SMOKES
WOOD FUELS