Dear all, I would suggest a list of which biomass you should avoid or consider toxic, before these are tested in independent labs. Just ask the native people, they know. I would guess that it would be a much shorter list than the ones less or not harmfull to humans. Otto
> From: [email protected] > Sent: 2011-10-26 11:54:30 MEST > To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves [[email protected]] > Subject: Re: [Stoves] Dangers of Jatropha and some good news > > Hi all. Sincere thanks for the information. But is it possible to have a link > where a comprehensive list of less toxic biomass is displayed? Grateful for > any help. Clem > Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN > > -----Original Message----- > From: Otto Formo <[email protected]> > Sender: [email protected] > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:42:49 > To: Nat of WorldStove<[email protected]>; <[email protected]> > Reply-To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Stoves] Dangers of Jatropha and some good news > > Dear stovers and especially Nat, > Thanks for usefull information and this is just in line what I have proposed > as a quick win for the Working Group on Tcehnology and Fuels. > The time is more than ready to create a digital library available on the > webside to the GACC to bring this kind of information available to the Groups > and the "public" as soon as possible. > The same thing goes for pyrolysis and combustion in stoves as well. > There is no need to invent the wheel again and again............ > > We will include the testing of emmission from toxic biomass, like jatroha at > SINTEF in Norway, to prevent the eradication of low income households World > Wide...........as Nataniel so corret is trying to say. > Otto > > > From: Nat of WorldStove [[email protected]] > > Sent: 2011-01-26 04:29:34 MET > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [Stoves] Dangers of Jatropha and some good news > > > > > > Dear Stovers, > > > > While I can appreciate the enthusiasm with which many arenow, at least > > conceptually, tackling the use of Jatropha as a fuel for stoves,I feel > > compelled to remind the group that, we as a community have as ourprimary > > objective the safety and health of those who need clean cookstoves. To > > this end, statements thattoxicity of Jatropha is eliminated by heat are > > dangerously misleading andignore decades of evidence. > > The source referred to (http://www.tnau.ac.in/tech/swc/evjatropha.pdf) > > states that?. > > > > ?Like Castor oil, the Jatropha oil and cake contain tracesof > > toxins. The components associated with toxicity can be > > denatured or inactivated by heat. The toxic components in > > Jatropha cake are curcin a phytotoxin similar to ricin in castor > > and HCN in young Sorghum leaves andTapioca rind.? > > > > What is ricin? In1978, the Bulgariandissident Georgi Markov was > > assassinated with a bit of ricin poked into him onthe tip of an umbrella. > > One milligramof this toxin in the bloodstream constitutes a lethal dose. > > Ricin is currently classified asa potential chemical weapon. > > Additionally,heat labile toxins are not the only toxins present many > > varieties of Jatrophaalso may contain hydrocyanic acid (CRC Critical > > Reviews in Toxicology 1977) > > > > > > > > TOXICITY OF JATROPHA > > > > Toxicity of Jatropha has been studied for far longer thanmost stove > > programs have existed. With publications in peer reviewed journalsdating at > > least back to 1976 (Alpin), and newer articles from the NationalAcademy of > > Science where it is noted that ?the resultant seed cake and othervegetative > > tissues are highly toxic.? > > (http://www.tnau.ac.in/tech/swc/evjatropha.pdf;http://www.pnas.org/content/106/35/E92.full) > > (Jongschaap,R. et al. 2009. The water footprint of bioenergy from Jatropha > > curcas L PNAS : 106 no. 35 E92). Themost recent compendium being published > > only last year. Even documents in favor of the use ofJatropha oils in > > stoves make careful note of its toxicity. For example: > > > > http://www.snvworld.org/en/Documents/FACT_Foundation_Jatropha_Handbook_2010.pdf > > > > > > > > See also? > > http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/jcurc.htm#SectionTitle:3.3The > > toxin(s) > > > > Although the introductory pdf quoted above > > (http://www.tnau.ac.in/tech/swc/evjatropha.pdf ) claimsthat some toxins in > > Jatropha can be destroyed ?by heat? This does NOT mean thematerial is safe > > to burn. The oils inJatropha are highly volatile and would certainly be > > carried in smoke emitted atthe beginning or the end of ignition. Here we > > can be guided by warnings concerning another plant producingvolatile and > > toxic oils, poison ivy, the literature is replete with warningsagainst > > burning this plant. For example, > > http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-218.pdf That states, ?NEVER burn poison > > ivy! The smoke from burning the plant containsparticles that can cause > > serious injury to the eyes, skin, and respiratorytract.? And toxicological > > studies would indicate that this cautionary statementshould be applied to > > any toxic biomass where the toxins can vaporize. > > > > Clearly even the handling of Jatropha come withgreat risks, risks which can > > be reduced with the use of protective suits andequipment, but to this day, > > in my many travels, I have not seen anyfieldworkers in Jatropha fields > > provided with even gloves > > > > > > Risks > > > > The risks associated with the handling of Jatropha include but are not > > limited to: > > > > 1. Dehydration and cardiovascular collapse > > 2. Haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis. > > 3. Central nervous system depression. > > 4. Kidney failure > > 5. Liver failure > > 6. Blindness > > 7. Cancer > > > > Christa correctly notes that Jatropha is being usedas a soil amendment but > > please remember that because of the thermo-chemicaltransformation that > > occurs during pyrolysis, without testing of biochar, it isnot safe to > > assume that what is safe to place in soils as plant matter, willalso lead > > to the production of safe biochar. Our tests, in fact, have indicatedthat > > oil rich fuels such as karité and Jatropha can result in the production > > ofbiochar with higher levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. So, as Otto > > noted ofemissions, I would like to also note of biochar, that unless it is > > tested fortoxicity we can not, and should not, assume it is safe. Otto?s > > point is particularly well taken thatmost emissions protocols so far test > > for fine particles, and CO and CO2 butalmost no test tests for toxicity of > > biomasses intended for use in stoves. > > > > > > > > CANWE AS A COMMUNITY SUPPORT THE EVICTION OF NATIVE PEOPLE, THE ELIMINATION > > OFBIODIVERSITY, AND GREATER DEMANDS ON WATER? > > > > WhileI only touched on this in my last email, let us take a step back and > > ask wherethe supposed surplus of Jatropha seed cake would be coming from.. > > To provide atheoretical use for its byproduct is seen as a justification, > > by some, for theelimination of local biodiversity in the name of big oil. > > Even if Jatropha were not toxic, can we as acommunity allow our stoves to > > be used as an excuse for deforestation? But do not take my word for it, > > ask thosewho are having Jatropha plantations forced on them who eloquently > > make thepoint in this video: > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiqMS6iglNQ > > > > > > OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. > > > > As a final note, I now see many requests for shipments ofseedcakes to be > > sent to the United States for testing. The import of plantmatter cannot > > generally be done without USDA import permits. This restriction was > > created to avoid newplant species epidemics such as those which caused the > > loss of the AmericanChestnut when one small tree was brought to a New York > > botanical show in 1904,and the loss to the American Elm because of a > > shipment of logs from France inthe 1930s. Permit applications can be found > > here: > > > > http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/permits/plantproducts.shtml > > > > The process is not immediate nor is it guaranteed. For this reason we > > conduct our tests duringlocal pilot programs and work closely with local > > universities. A practice I ampleased to have seen now emulated by other > > stove programs. > > > > IN CONCLUSION > > > > I am neither stating that we should or should not explorethe use of > > Jatropha or any other available waste biomass. However, to begin a study > > without firsttesting for the risks from the resulting emissions and safety > > of the resultantbiochar would seem to go against all that this community > > and this list standsfor. As a positive final thought, noneed to reinvent > > the wheel. There are any number of organizations who havededicated decades > > to determining toxicity of plants. If you are designing a newstove for a > > specific biomass or tuning an existing one to be optimized for usewith a > > specific biomass, why not, first of all, check out any number > > oforganizations like IPCS (International Program on Chemical Safety) > > > > http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/jcurc.htm#SectionTitle:3.3The > > toxin(s) > > > > This way we will never loose sight of the needs of thepeople we are trying > > to help, no matter how temping a newly available feedstockmay be. > > > > Cordially yours > > > > Nathaniel Mulcahy > > www.WorldStove.com > > > > > > > > > > Today's Topics: > > > > 1. Heat destroys Jatropha toxins Re: jatropha, stoves, and > > biochar. (Paul S. Anderson) > > > > > > > > Stovers, > > > > The cautionary notes given by Nat M. and Otto F. should be taken > > seriously. However, they also need to provide scientific evidence to > > support their statements. > > > > Evidence implying the OPPOSITE of what was stated is the following: > > > > from http://www.tnau.ac.in/tech/swc/evjatropha.pdf > > > > Like Castor oil, the Jatropha oil and cake contain traces of > > toxins. The components associated with toxicity can be > > denatured or inactivated by heat. The toxic components in > > Jatropha cake are curcin a phytotoxin similar to ricin in castor > > and HCN in young Sorghum leaves and Tapioca rind and > > purgative oil as in castor and croton oil. Heat treatment or the > > combination of heat and chemical (NaOH and NaOCl) > > treatments can inactivate the above toxic components. > > > > **** Apparently heat destroys the toxins. Good news that has been out > > of sight. Publication date is not evident. > > > > -- > > Paul S. Anderson, PhD > > Known to some as: Dr. TLUD Doc Professor > > Phone (USA): 309-452-7072 SKYPE: paultlud Email: [email protected] > > > > > > > > Quoting Nat of WorldStove <[email protected]>: > > > > > > > > Dear All > > > Today's jatropha thread has been a grand discussion. I would like to > > > express some concerns however regarding jatropha. > > > There are many jatropha genotypes. The primary reason people are > > > planting Jatropha is because it can be used to > > > produce a high quality fuel oil. While I will not address my > > > concerns regarding the introduction of non native species into certain > > > ecosytems , other concernes are more pertinent to this list and > > > should be mentioned. It should be noted that many jatropha > > > genotypes are highly toxic. Short term,exposure to these toxins can > > > cause death and blindness, and the long term > > > carcinogenic effects of phorbol esters found in many genotypes of > > > jatropha have been documented for years. While there > > > are some less toxic varieties of jatorpha (native to Mexico) they do > > > not have the same crop yields as their more toxic relatives > > > and so it is safe to assume that much of the available waste will be > > > of the more toxic variety. > > > > > > In the cases where jatropha is being considered not only as a fuel > > > for cooking, but also to produce biochar it should be noted > > > that the resultant content of PAH?s in some of the biochar produced > > > with jatropha is well beyond what is considered safe for > > > humans and should not be used in soils intended for food production. > > > > > > I am all in favor of using agricultural residues and waste but would > > > like to echo Otto?s wise advice to test before we promote > > > the use of new fuels. After all plastics also work very well in > > > gasifieing stoves but I would certainly not advise using them. While > > > there has been talk of setting up stove test centers I would also > > > recommend centers to test for the safety of fuels intended > > > for cooking and fuels intended for biochar production. > > > > > > Cautiously yours, > > > > > > Nat of WorldStove > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > The Stoves list has moved to [email protected] - please > update your email contacts to reflect the change. > > Please visit BioEnergy Discussion Lists > http://info.bioenergylists.org/ > Thank you, Stoves > Administrator > http://stoves.bioenergylists.org > http://info.bioenergylists.org > > UNSUBSCRIBE HERE; > http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_listserv.repp.org >
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