Pollutant concentrations within households in Lao PDR and association with housing characteristics and occupants' activities.
Environ Sci Technol
; 45(3): 882-9, 2011 Feb 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21171562
ABSTRACT
The paper presents the results of a study conducted to investigate indoor air quality within residential dwellings in Lao PDR. Results from PM(10), CO, and NO(2) measurements inside 167 dwellings in Lao PDR over a five month period (December 2005-April 2006) are discussed as a function of household characteristics and occupant activities. Extremely high PM(10) and NO(2) concentrations (12 h mean PM(10) concentrations 1275 ± 98 µg m(-3) and 1183 ± 99 µg m(-3) in Vientiane and Bolikhamxay provinces, respectively; 12 h mean NO(2) concentrations 1210 ± 94 µg m(-3) and 561 ± 45 µg m(-3) in Vientiane and Bolikhamxay, respectively) were measured within the dwellings. Correlations, ANOVA analysis (univariate and multivariate), and linear regression results suggest a substantial contribution from cooking and smoking. The PM(10) concentrations were significantly higher in houses without a chimney compared to houses in which cooking occurred on a stove with a chimney. However, no significant differences in pollutant concentrations were observed as a function of cooking location. Furthermore, PM(10) and NO(2) concentrations were higher in houses in which smoking occurred, suggestive of a relationship between increased indoor concentrations and smoking (0.05 < p < 0.10). Resuspension of dust from soil floors was another significant source of PM(10) inside the house (634 µg m(-3), p < 0.05).
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Carbon Monoxide
/
Air Pollution, Indoor
/
Particulate Matter
/
Housing
/
Nitrogen Dioxide
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Environ Sci Technol
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia