Indoor Air Quality Assessment as Related to Household Conditions in Rural Houses During Winter Season

Abstract

Human exposure to indoor air contaminants may be several times higher than outdoor levels because of the majority of their time is spent indoors. People belonging to rural areas in developing countries are usually exposed to high levels of household pollution daily owing to use of biomass for cooking. The situation becomes worsened in winter as the consumption goes up. The unprocessed biofuel is related to asthma, respiratory tract infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cataract, and in severe cases lung cancer. The aim of the study was to assess indoor air quality through measurement of CO, CO2, NO2, SO2 and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and health symptoms. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 125 households in 15 villages in the vicinity of Lucknow city. After analyzing the survey results, five villages were shortlisted from where fifteen houses were selected for monitoring from November 2013 to February 2014. The survey presented a comprehensive picture of a rural household along with socioeconomic structure. Many other confounding factors including smoking, poor ventilation practices etc. were also identified in the course of study revealing poor household conditions. High particulate levels and health symptoms were likely to be associated mainly to use of crude fuel use.