Biomass cooking fuels raise toxic metal exposure risks in Bangladesh, study finds

A new study finds that burning biomass fuels like dry wood, cow dung and rice husk in rural Bangladeshi kitchens contributes to toxic heavy metal buildup in household dust. Researchers led by Md. Badiuzzaman Khan sampled dust and fuel from 63 households in the Haor and Charland regions between November 2022 and March 2023.

The study found metals such as iron, manganese, zinc, cobalt, chromium, copper, selenium and vanadium at levels varying by region and fuel type, with nickel, chromium and arsenic exceeding what researchers called negligible levels. Children were found to face particular risk from manganese exposure, given their tendency to touch dusty surfaces and put hands in their mouths.

The researchers recommend better kitchen ventilation, reduced reliance on high-emission fuels, and further monitoring of health effects, framing the issue as a public health necessity rather than merely an environmental one.

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