Indoor short-term exposure to airborne particulate matter from traditional cookstoves in rural areas of Malawi. A case of Nsabwe and Bauleni villages

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the short-term exposure to respirable particulate matter (PM_2.5) from biomass combustion. A total of 24 households were sampled from two rural villages in Lilongwe, viz Nsabwe and Bauleni villages. Levels of particulate matter were measured using a portable gas detector. Indoor mean concentrations of PM_2.5 ranged from 457 to 698 μg/m³, with no significant difference between the two villages, suggesting exposure to similar levels. The observed levels are far above the recommended WHO limit for indoor air, posing a great health risk, more especially to the women and children who frequently visit the cooking areas. There is therefore need to widen appropriate intervention measures to reduce the current levels of indoor air pollution in the rural areas.