PM2.5 ARISING FROM DIFFERENT COOKING FUELS IN RURAL RESIDENTIAL
. H. Amanat, Z. Ali, S. Sidra, Z. A. Nasir, I. Colbeck
1*1, 2 3.4 4 H. Amanat, Z. Ali, S. Sidra, Z. A. Nasir, I. Colbeck
1 Environmental Health and Wildlife, Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore-54590, Pakistan
2 Department of Wildlife and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
3 School of Energy, Environment and Agrifood, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK
4 School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, Essex UK
Published Online First:
June 01, 2015
Publication Date:
June 01, 2015
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted in the rural area of Kasur district, Pakistan to monitor PM levels generated by different fuel 2.5 types. Three rural houses were selected, one burning wood as primary cooking fuel while the other two employed LPG for cooking purposes. Burning of wood caused PM levels to increase 37 times above the WHO recommended limit of 25 µg/m3 while smoking also contributed significantly increasing PM levels up to 48 times than the recommended limit. LPG was observed to increase the levels up to 14 times. It is important to promote the use of cleaner fuels as increased exposure to PM levels generated by biomass fuel burning can have a significant impact upon human health. ventilation which allows infiltration of pollutants into the
Keywords:
Particulate matter, Biomass fuels, LPG, Rural houses, Pakistan