Effect of Indoor Air Pollution on Health of Rural Women While Cooking
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Date
2016-06
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad
Abstract
Indoor air pollutants are nearly the same as that of outdoor ones. The concentration of household pollutants exceeds the standard set for outdoors. IAP is more harmful and possess a greater health hazards, because on an average a person spends nearly 16-18 hours indoor. Keeping in view the greater health hazards of IAP the study was carried out to assess the extent of IAP from biomass combustion in rural kitchen. The study was conducted in three taluk’s of Dharwad district, comprising a sample of 90 women respondents and a sub sample of 30 women respondents. Portable carbon dioxide meter and carbon monoxide meter were used to record the level of pollutants in the kitchen. Blood pressure monitor and heart rate monitor were used to record the blood pressure and heart rate of women while performing cooking activity. Majority of the women respondents belonged to 30-40 years of age group with a mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg. Women performed cooking in indoor with partition having a small size kitchen they usually preferred to cook in the morning and evening hours with biomass fuel using traditional Chula. The average CO and CO2 levels during cooking from biomass was 374.58, 1489.20 ppm respectively which is exceeding the limit set by U.S Environmental protection agency regulation by 200 times for outdoor air pollutants and also WHO limits. The study clearly depicts the problems faced by rural women due to biomass combustion. Maximum women reported eye irritation, nose irritation, irritating throat, cough and shortness of breath a significant correlation was observed between carbon monoxide and blood pressure while performing cooking.