Effects of Indoor Air Pollution on Health in Low Income Households of Aligarh City, U.P.

摘要

This paper seeks to investigate the on health effects of indoor air pollution, due to domestic cookingfuel used in low income households. Cooking with traditional fuels leads to high levels of indoor air pollution, exposure of which increases the risk of various health problems. This study is based on primary sources of data collected with the help of questionnaire interviews of 1,180 low income households (Rs.3,000 and less per month) Since women are responsible for cooking they were selected as respondents. fins study investigates the major socio-economic factors, places of cooking, types of cooking fuel used and exposure to indoor air pollution. Of the total sample, in 10 per cent households the pollutants (PM_(10)PM_(2.5)CO, CO_2 SO_2 NO_2) were monitored. The results show that most of the low income households were using traditional fuels and stoves, cooking in multipurpose room and verandah. in poorly ventilated cooking places and taking long hours for cooking. Thus; they were exposed to smoke and heat, including young ones exposed to it. They reported of the, occurrence of associated diseases, such as instant and short term problems, respiratory infections, adverse pregnancy outcomes, eye problems and diseases. The study points to the need of creating awareness amongst the low income households.