Assessment of Indoor Air Quality Particulate Matter (PM2.5 , PM10) in Kigali City

Abstract

Indoor air quality is considered as one of the top five environmental risks to the public’s health. Since people spend up to (95)% of their time indoors for example children, pregnant women and older adults, are more vulnerable to health complications associated with indoor air pollutants because of their decreased immune system and age associated health problems. This research involved the measuring of a range of indoor air pollutions in a sample of hundred Kigali City homes that uses solid fuels (charcoals, woods) , gases for cooking and petrol-lamps for lighting by Air visual Nodes fitted with PM2.5 and PM10 used to collect and log real-time data in µg/m3 . At the same time the ambient air pollutants around kitchens and living homes was also measured for comparing and see PM2.5 and PM10 concentration levels of each considered locations (indoor or outdoor). The procedure of checking the presence of poor indoor air quality within kitchens and living homes before sampling was based on questionnaires method. Results from sampling show that the concentration levels of indoor particulate matter within homes that uses woods, charcoals and gases for cooking and petrol-lamps for lighting are as following: For homes that uses solid fuels (woods) for cooking, the level of concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 are above 1000 µg/m3and 1200 µg/m3 respectively. For homes that uses solid fuels (charcoals) for cooking, the level of concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 are in range of 50−200 µg/m3 and 100−300 µg/m3 respectively. For homes that uses gases for cooking and petrol-lamps for night lighting, the level of concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 are in range of 40−80 µg/m3 and 60−140 µg/m3 respectively. Questionnaire results show that people stay long-time within homes are children, women and old-adults. While women, children and young-girls are highly exposed to indoor air pollutions by cooking and they smell some time smokes from combustion of woods, charcoals, gases and petrol-lamps. As air pollutants has many effects on human health that is why people perform cooking activities have to minimize the exposing time within kitchens and have to cook with protections, open windows and doors.