Improving Indoor Pollution: A Comparative Analysis of Indoor Air Pollution in Northern Pakistan

Abstract:

Indigenous construction techniques considered the climatic conditions of Northern Areas, but the introduction of energy intensive construction techniques have resulted in high amount of firewood to be used for heating the houses in winters (6 to 8 months). With 86% of dwellers relying on firewood as their main fuel source, and just 10.5% of forests remaining, firewood is usually bought making it the third biggest expense for families, accounting for 11% of all household expenditures. Therefore, BACIP, through participatory research and development process, developed and manufactured appropriate Energy Efficient and House Improvement (EEHI) products helping in: saving household firewood; eliminating indoor smoke; and, reducing the use of timber for house construction.

USEPA and BACIP are trying to improve the indoor air quality in rural houses through introduction of smokeless stoves and EEHI products. Therefore, a baseline study was conducted in Ishkoman Valley, where in winters cooking and heating is done using Dildung (open fire). The study aimed at determining the indoor and outdoor air quality using an aerosol spectrometer for PM2.5 (DUSTRAK Model 8520, TSI) in sample houses. The study findings show a very high concentration of PM2.5 in houses as compare to the WHO standards. For example the mean concentration of PM2.5 for indoors is 7.38 mg/m3 with a maximum of up to 206.59 mg/m3 during cooking hours. While for outdoors, the mean concentration of PM2.5 is 0.08 mg/m3 with a maximum of 0.258 mg/m3. The paper will include the process, methods and the findings of the baseline study.