Assessing the environmental burden in rural habitat with indoor smoke from solid fuels
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Date
2015
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The present study was undertaken in Hisar district of Haryana state to determine the domestic
use of cooking fuels in rural habitat. Assessing the indoor air pollution level as per energy ladder and
its effect on respiratory health and installation of MDV chullah and improved hara to combat indoor
air pollution
The survey of first phase revealed that majority of respondent were in between 20-30 years of
age, illiterate, belongs to low caste families, had nuclear families with 3-6 members, and were
agriculture labor with monthly income of Rs. 10,001 to 15,000 . Data showed that most of the
respondents were using chullah for own food and hara for animal feed with fuel placed on lower rung
of energy ladder i.e. crop waste and dung cakes, with total time spent for lunch was (51.6 min) on
chullah followed by LPG (29.4 min), hara (15.3 min.) and angithi/bhathi (17.4 min) in Gangwa
village. In village Ludas, the total mean time spent for cooking activities was (53.0 min) on chullah
followed by LPG (28.4 min), hara (13.7 min.) and angithi/bhathi (15.9 min). While using chullah and
hara, respondents faced many health problems of ‘headache’ and ‘irritation in eyes’. Majority of them
were also having respiratory problems like ‘phlegm’ (sputum) ‘shortness of breath’ (2.6), ‘cough’ (2.5)
and ‘wheezing’ (attacks) with mean score of 2.0, respectively. By using of dung cakes SPM and CO2
values were high in traditional hara in comparison to improved hara. There was significant difference
of PEFR value in traditional and MDV chullah and improved hara. SPM and CO2 was found to be in
Permissible limits with the use of improved hara and MDV chullah and hence, found to be reducing
pollution burden to some extent.
More motivational programmes need to be conducted with help of anganwadi workers to
promote improved cook stoves for healthy environment and to reduce respiratory problems.
Description
Keywords
energy resources, Biological phenomena, Wood, Area, Farmyard manure, Flavourings, Diseases, Inorganic compounds, Manpower, Biomass