Particulate Matter Exposure to Biomass Cookstove Emissions and Lung Deposition Modelling in Women and Children: A Comparative Analysis

Household Air Pollution (HAP) from biomass combustion in rural households of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), disproportionately affects women and children, who spend extended periods in cooking microenvironments. This study quantified personal PM 2.5 exposure and predicted regional lung deposition using the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) model among 20 women cooks (including 4 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD) and accompanying children (9+ years) in Mysuru district of Karnataka, India. Exposure monitoring captured four-kitchen/stove combinations: traditional/improved cookstoves in separate/open kitchens. Head region deposition dominated, followed by pulmonary and tracheobronchial regions. Children exhibited 1.5-2 times higher total deposition than women due to elevated breathing frequencies and smaller tidal volumes, despite lower absolute minute ventilation. Separate kitchens yielded ∼2 times higher PM levels and lung deposition vs. open kitchens, driven by restricted ventilation. COPD patients showed 24% higher lung deposition, linked to finer particles, potentially exacerbated by disease-related airway changes. These findings have direct relevance for rural communities in India and comparable LMIC settings where biomass remains the primary cooking fuel. The study demonstrates that HAP induces substantial respiratory particle burdens, particularly in children and individuals with pre-existing airway diseases like COPD, where standard exposure models underestimate risks. Combined interventions targeting stove technology, kitchen ventilation, and clean fuel transitions are critical to reducing exposure and health risks. Policy should prioritise high-risk groups through targeted exposure reduction goals and sustained monitoring to support adaptive, evidence-based strategies. • Integrated field PM 2.5 monitoring with MPPD lung deposition modelling • Children showed 1.5 – 2x higher lung deposition than women • COPD patients exhibited 24% greater particle deposition • Separate kitchens doubled lung dose vs open kitchens • Clean stoves + ventilation can markedly reduce lung burden