Indoor air quality in homes using biomass for heating and cooking

The impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on occupants’ health and welfare is a subject that gathered the attention of the scientific community over the last two decades. Homes were found to be micro-environments with the highest contribution to the daily exposure, especially to particulate matter and VOC’s. According to WHO, 3.8 million deaths every year, occur as a result of household exposure to smoke from dirty cookstoves and fuels, with particularly high risks among women and children’s groups. Our study involves IAQ measurements in residential spaces in Skopje urban and sub urban area (Lisiche), using biomass for heating and cooking purposes. A total of 40 houses were included in preliminary program, with 21 passing QA/QC procedures and qualified for further analysis. Parameters measured include particulate matter (PM 1, PM 2.5, PM 4 and PM10), carbon dioxide, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure. Measurements were preformed using optical sensor (light scattering) for PM, NDIR sensor for CO2, temperature and humidity combined resistance/capacitive probe for T(°C) and RH % and piezoresistive sensor for atmospheric pressure (Delta Ohm, HD 50). Monitoring was conducted for several consecutive days in order to avoid influence of different space usage habits and ambient pollution levels. The obtained results shows that 24 hours average PM10 concentration in homes heating with indoor stoves are in range of 200.1 ± 126.9 µg/m3 (n = 17) while in homes using biomass with external heating systems the 24 hours average PM10 concentration were in range 14.7 ± 6.5 µg/m3 (n = 4). In the same period (28.12.2020-28.01.2021), 24 hours average outdoor PM 10 concentrations at Lisiche station were 72.25 ± 57.19 µg/m3. Data obtained, exhibit significantly higher indoor concentration for homes using indoor stoves, indicating indoor stoves as very significant source of indoor air pollutio