Indoor Household Energy Use & Air Quality Assessment

Abstract:

The paper reviews indoor household air pollution, its affects on health, and prevention methods, generally not very well addressed in communities. More than 3 billion people (mostly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa) still use solid fuel for household energy needs. The inefficient burning of solid fuels, such as dung, wood, charcoal and coal, combined with poor ventilation, produces high levels of indoor air pollution (IAP). Exposure to IAP from the combustion of solid fuels has risk factor for several diseases, including acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer (from coal smoke), asthma, cancer of the larynx, tuberculosis, and eye diseases (cataract and blindness). Pollutants in biomass and coal smoke include particulate matter (considered serious & widespread health hazard), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur oxides, formaldehyde, and polycyclic organic matter, including carcinogens. Women, young children (due to higher exposure) and the elderly are particularly affected by IAP. Data suggests that IAP affects nearly 3 times among women compared to men and other estimates suggest that nearly 800,000 child deaths are attributable to this environmental risk factor.

Paper reviews effective solutions, reducing levels of indoor air pollution and minimizing risks. Remedies include cleaner, more efficient fuels, improved equipment which provide efficient and more complete burning, and better indoor ventilation practices. However, for these solutions to be effective and sustainable in the long term, they must also be accompanied by changes in behavior. Therefore, it is essential that effective prevention methods and analytical tools use an integrated approach, using knowledge of quantitative environmental science and engineering, to toxicology, epidemiology, and social practices. Based on research and available data, paper also concludes that the amount of household energy use, and the day-to-day household activities and practices determine exposure to IAP and thus the health risks.

Keywords: indoor air pollution, developing countries, Asia, exposure assessment, air pollutants, household energy use, prevention, public health risks