--- title: "Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of Cooking…" description: "Cooking outdoors with charcoal significantly reduces exposure to PM2.5 compared to cooking indoors with wood in rural Malawi, potentially mitigating…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html" type: "study" study_key: "s189" journal: "Int J Environ Res Public Health" year: 2021 pmid: "34300131" doi: "10.3390/ijerph18147680" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of Cooking Methods on Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow. [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/s189 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Int J Environ Res Public Health | | Year | 2021 | | PMID | [34300131](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34300131/) | | DOI | [10.3390/ijerph18147680](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147680) | | Study key | s189 | ## Takeaway Cooking outdoors with charcoal significantly reduces exposure to PM2.5 compared to cooking indoors with wood in rural Malawi, potentially mitigating respiratory symptoms. ## The question What is the impact of different cooking methods (wood vs. charcoal) and locations (indoor vs. outdoor) on air pollution exposure, blood pressure, and peak expiratory flow in women in rural Malawi? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesizes that cooking with wood, especially indoors, will lead to higher PM2.5 exposure and potentially negative health outcomes compared to cooking with charcoal or outdoors. ## Methods The study used static and personal PM2.5 measurements with a miniature monitor (RTI MicroPEM) to characterize exposure among women cooking with wood and charcoal indoors and outdoors in rural Malawi. Blood pressure and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were also measured. ## Results Mean PM2.5 concentrations 1m from cookstoves were 1338 µg/m3 for wood and 31 µg/m3 for charcoal. Mean personal PM2.5 exposures were 706 µg/m3 for wood and 94 µg/m3 for charcoal. Personal indoor PM2.5 exposures were 3.3 times greater than outdoor for wood and 1.7 times greater for charcoal. Six out of eight participants had PEFR below 80% of expected prior to exposure. Reductions in PEFR were observed for participants cooking with wood indoors. Five out of eight participants reported breathing difficulties, coughing, and eye irritation when cooking with wood, with less severe symptoms for charcoal. ## Conclusion Exposure to PM2.5 was substantially reduced by cooking outdoors with charcoal. Simple interventions like cooking outside and minimizing time near stoves could reduce risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. ## Limitations The study involved a small number of participants (eight women) and did not explicitly state the duration of the exposure measurements or the follow-up period for health outcomes. It also noted that both wood and charcoal have negative environmental and health impacts. ## Verbatim from the abstract > reducing PM2.5 exposure could reduce respiratory and cardiovascular disease risk ## Mean PM2.5 Exposure by Cooking Method and Location | Measure | PM2.5 Concentration (µg/m3) | | --- | --- | | Wood (1m from stove) | 1338 | | Charcoal (1m from stove) | 31 | | Wood (Personal Exposure) | 706 | | Charcoal (Personal Exposure) | 94 | *Mean PM2.5 concentrations (µg/m3) observed at 1m from cookstoves and as personal exposures during cooking with wood and charcoal.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Personal PM2.5 Air Monitor | Moderate evidence | [Personal PM2.5 Air Monitor](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/189.md) | ## Reference 1. **Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of Cooking Methods on Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow.** Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 · [PMID 34300131](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34300131/) · [DOI 10.3390/ijerph18147680](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147680) > reducing PM2.5 exposure could reduce respiratory and cardiovascular disease risk ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html","name":"Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of Cooking Methods on Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory…","description":"Cooking outdoors with charcoal significantly reduces exposure to PM2.5 compared to cooking indoors with wood in rural Malawi, potentially mitigating…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s189.html#study","name":"Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of Cooking Methods on Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory Flow.","headline":"Exposure to Air Pollution in Rural Malawi: Impact of Cooking Methods on Blood Pressure and Peak Expiratory…","datePublished":"2021","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},"identifier":"PMID:34300131","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34300131/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147680","abstract":"Cooking outdoors with charcoal significantly reduces exposure to PM2.5 compared to cooking indoors with wood in rural Malawi, potentially mitigating respiratory symptoms."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Personal PM2.5 Air Monitor](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/189.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Short-term effects of fine particulate matter on daily health events in Latin America: a…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d28255648.md) - [Short-term exposure to fine and coarse particles and mortality: a multicity time-series…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d26340298.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).