Can manure fuel rural villages? And be healthier?

William Atkins
Wednesday, 21 May 2008 00:50

Science - Energy

The two researchers also found that rural people using biogas rather than firewood, kerosene, and other commonly used fuels had 50% less visits to the doctor—implying that the use of biogas is healthier than traditional fuel products because it does not pollute inside air as much as the burning of traditional fuels.

Other studies have shown that people who burn firewood and kerosene in rural areas have higher respiratory problems than rural people who do not burn such fuel products.

However, these two researchers found that people in India who converted to biodigesters had one-half as many visits to doctors than they normally did.

The researchers tie this decrease in medical visits to higher quality of indoor air.

Women and children in such rural areas are especially susceptible to respiratory problems, related health issues, and even  premature death because they spend more time indoors and their families use pollution prone kerosene and firewood.

Rural communities are ideal places to test biogas digesters. Most rural people in India use cows, buffaloes, and other such animals in the operations of their farms and businesses. Such animals can produce many kilograms of manure each day.

According to the researchers, one biogass digester for use in such rural areas costs around US$250. The researchers estimate that an average sized Indian family could pay for one biogass digester within two years.

In addition, the researchers also found that many rural villagers, because they could not find enough firewood to supply their needs each day, often restored to stealing it from forested areas. Using biogas digesters, instead of firewood, means that such illegal activity could be halted, or at least minimized—thus helping to maintain a healthier environment (aka, more trees) and a more law-abiding community.

This article is based on the May 12, 2008 New Scientist article found at: “When burning gas is good for the planet.”