Indoor air pollution and personal exposure to particulate matters (PMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rural households from Northern China

Household air pollution caused by solid fuel combustion is of wide public concern in China. To investigate the correlations of personal inhalation exposure to PMs and PAHs with indoor and outdoor air, PMs with different... [ view full abstract ]

Household air pollution caused by solid fuel combustion is of wide public concern in China. To investigate the correlations of personal inhalation exposure to PMs and PAHs with indoor and outdoor air, PMs with different fractions, gaseous and size-segregated particulate phases PAHs were collected in summer by personal carried samplers for adult residents, combined with simultaneously stationary monitoring at different locations in rural households from Northern China using solid fuels and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Averaged concentrations of total PMs were 180.8±175.9, 104.3±67.1 and 77.4±28.7 μg/m3 in kitchen, bedroom and outdoor air, respectively. The values for 29 PAHs were 1541.1±938.2, 955.6±464.7 and 573.8±302.5 ng/m3. Fine particles (PM1.0) were dominant fraction indoors and outdoors, with greater than 58% of total PMs. The highest PM0.25 content occurred in kitchens using firewood and crop residues. Gaseous PAHs were prevailing compared with particulate PAHs. The majority of particulate PAHs were associated with PM1.0. Larger fraction of heavier PAHs was found indoors, especially in kitchen.
Averaged personal exposure concentrations of PM2.5 and 29 PAHs were 72.1±43.5 μg/m3 and 953.1±801.7 ng/m3. Exposed concentrations of housewives responsible for cooking were higher than male residents without cooking. Exposed concentrations using firewood and crop residues evidently exceeded those using LPG. Greater exposure contribution originated from bedroom and outdoor air. The local population attributable fraction for lung cancer was 0.44% and health risks for inhaled PAHs was 2.33E-5. Solid fuel combustion in rural households produced higher inhalation exposure and LPG substitution may alleviate indoor air pollution.