An Assessment of PM 2.5 Concentration from Traditional Heating in the Urban Households of Kashmir
摘要
Exposure to PM 2.5 is a leading environmental risk factor for many illnesses and premature deaths, causing rising public concern. Urban residents spend around 90% of their time indoors, resulting in indoor air pollutant exposure that can be 100 times greater than that of outdoor air pollution. Despite the widespread usage of traditional heating systems in Kashmiri culture, this is the first research to quantify PM 2.5 concentrations resulting from their use. This study also evaluated the relationship between ventilation and indoor air quality and discussed the research’s policy implications. A laser egg air quality monitor was used to measure PM 2.5 concentrations in 35 households in Srinagar, with data collected at two-hour intervals in both the morning and evening. Our findings reveal exceptionally high PM 2.5 concentrations in households ranging from 225 to 999 µg/m3, above the WHO limit of 5 µg/m3. Households that opened windows for at least 30 min had lower PM 2.5 concentrations (morning: 420.4 µg/m3, evening: 406.5 µg/m3) than those that kept their windows closed (morning: 498.5 µg/m3, evening: 590.6 µg/m3). Outdoor pollution, notably from traffic, also had an impact on indoor air quality. The houses in high-traffic zones had the highest morning and evening PM 2.5 concentrations (530 µg/m3 and 600 µg/m3, respectively), followed by those near sub-traffic zones and far away from traffic. Furthermore, 15 households had members suffering from respiratory issues, and 3 had heart conditions, underscoring the severe health risks of poor indoor air quality. Hence, keeping this study as scoping evidence, it paves the way for further investigation into elucidating the nexus between traditional heating and indoor air quality.