Journal of Pollution Effects & Control
Open Access

Abstract

Indoor Air Pollution from Cooking and its Effects on Households in Low Income Urban Areas in Developing Countries

Dan Oduor Oluoch* and Gideon Nyamasyo

The purpose of this study was to carry out controlled cooking tests so as to evaluate the amount of Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) and Particulate Matter (PM_2.5), the main causes of indoor air pollution released from incomplete combustion of cooking fuels used by the sampled households. The study was carried out in Kibera Constituency, Nairobi, Kenya. The study found that measuring these emission and highest temperature (°C) reached in the house while cooking was quite important in understanding the extent of indoor air pollution among targeted households. The study further sought to analyze the amount and efficiency of fuel used when cooking a standard meal of breakfast and dinner in a typical household. The fuels evaluated in this study were Charcoal, Kerosene, Electricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas. Four households were randomly selected from a sample size of 304 households to participate in the Controlled Cooking Tests. Participation in the study was voluntary. Participating household who signed consent forms containing information about the study, the procedure and the benefits of participating in the study was quite symmetrical but participants willingly.

Published Date: 2020-11-27; Received Date: 2020-10-23