Household air pollution generated using solid-fuel cookstoves is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many studies have quantified cookstove emissions with respect to the main fuels used (e.g., wood, charcoal and other biomass fuels). Anecdotal evidence suggests a variety of fuels are used to ignite cookstoves, however quantitative information on startup fuel types is lacking. Emissions from startup materials contribute to household air pollution. As such, understanding startup practices and the choices of startup materials is integral to understanding the full burden of household air pollution from cookstoves on health and the environment. We conducted an expert elicitation style survey to gather information about startup practices worldwide. Twenty-three respondents from academic and private sectors responded to a survey instrument on cookstove startup, providing information that covered 48 geographic locations across 22 countries. Responses to the open-ended questions were analyzed to quantify how startup materials vary according to factors such as location, seasonality, and the main cooking fuel/stove type. A wide variety of materials were reportedly used to ignite cookstoves, including many non-biomass materials that may have toxic combustion byproducts. Paper, plastic, agricultural wastes, waxes and other petroleum fuels (e.g., kerosene), and rubber-like materials (e.g., tires, footwear) were the most commonly indicated startup materials. Additional materials mentioned included fabrics, plastic packaging, soda bottles, snack food wrappers, and trash. Results from this survey can be used to direct future research on the impacts of startup materials on health and the environment, such as justifying the choice of materials to test in the laboratory.

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关于用于启动炉灶的材料类型的专家调查

使用固体燃料炉灶产生的家庭空气污染是全球发病率和死亡率的主要风险因素。许多研究已经量化了与使用的主要燃料（例如木材、木炭和其他生物质燃料）相关的炉灶排放。坊间证据表明，使用多种燃料来点燃炉灶，但缺乏关于启动燃料类型的定量信息。启动材料的排放会导致家庭空气污染。因此，了解启动实践和启动材料的选择对于了解来自炉灶的家庭空气污染对健康和环境的全部负担是不可或缺的。我们进行了一项专家启发式调查，以收集有关全球创业实践的信息。来自学术界和私营部门的 23 名受访者对有关炉灶启动的调查工具做出了回应，提供的信息涵盖 22 个国家/地区的 48 个地理位置。对开放式问题的回答进行了分析，以量化启动材料如何根据位置、季节性和主要烹饪燃料/炉灶类型等因素而变化。据报道，多种材料被用于点燃炉灶，包括许多可能具有有毒燃烧副产物的非生物质材料。纸、塑料、农业废弃物、蜡和其他石油燃料（例如煤油）和橡胶类材料（例如轮胎、鞋类）是最常见的启动材料。提到的其他材料包括织物、塑料包装、汽水瓶、休闲食品包装纸和垃圾。