An appraisal of air quality, thermal comfort, acoustic, and health risk of household kitchens in a developing country

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 29; no. 18; pp. 26202 - 26213
• Main Authors: Giwa, Solomon O., Nwaokocha, Collins N., Sharifpur, Mohsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-04-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acoustics; Air Pollution - analysis; Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis; Air quality; Air temperature; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Carbon monoxide; Cooking; Cramps; Developing Countries; Dry season; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental science; Evaluation; Exposure; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Heat; Inhalation; Kerosene; Kitchens; LDCs; Noise; Noise levels; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; Quotients; Relative humidity; Research Article; Respiration; Risk assessment; Stoves; Thermal comfort; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Thermal comfort; Air pollutants; Kerosene stoves; Household kitchens; Developing country; Health risk
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17788-6

Few studies have documented the air quality, noise, thermal comfort, and health risk assessment of household kitchens related to Sub-Sahara Africa. In this paper, air quality (CO and PM
2.5
), thermal comfort (relative humidity (RH) and temperature), noise, and health risk in urban household kitchens with kerosene-fueled stoves were presented. This study was carried out during the dry season (summer) in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. At the breathing zone, PM
2.5
and CO concentrations in the assessed kitchens were measured. In addition, the noise level, RH, and air temperature in the assessed kitchens were also determined. Furthermore, an evaluation of the heat index and health risk of the exposed population to the kerosene-fueled stove kitchens was carried out. During cooking, average CO and PM
2.5
concentrations were 24.77 ± 1.05 ppm and 138.10 ± 2.61 µg/m
3
, respectively, while the RH was 68.34 ± 0.73%, noise level was 51.14 ± 1.08 dB, and temperature was 29.86 ± 0.23 °C. The CO and noise levels were relatively slightly lower and PM
2.5
was significantly higher than the thresholds recommended by World Health Organisation. In most of the kitchens, the heat index evaluation revealed the possibility of heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and sunstroke with prolonged exposure of the vulnerable group. The air quality index depicted unhealthy (CO exposure) and very unhealthy (PM
2.5
exposure) while the hazard quotient (> 1) implied possible health risk concerning exposure by inhalation. Better design of kitchen with adequate ventilation and improved stoves are suggested.