title: Pollutant concentrations within households in Lao PDR and association with housing characteristics and occupants' activities.
abstract: The paper presents the results of a study conducted to investigate indoor air quality within residential dwellings in Lao PDR. Results from PM(10), CO, and NO(2) measurements inside 167 dwellings in Lao PDR over a five month period (December 2005-April 2006) are discussed as a function of household characteristics and occupant activities. Extremely high PM(10) and NO(2) concentrations (12 h mean PM(10) concentrations 1275 ± 98 μg m(-3) and 1183 ± 99 μg m(-3) in Vientiane and Bolikhamxay provinces, respectively; 12 h mean NO(2) concentrations 1210 ± 94 μg m(-3) and 561 ± 45 μg m(-3) in Vientiane and Bolikhamxay, respectively) were measured within the dwellings. Correlations, ANOVA analysis (univariate and multivariate), and linear regression results suggest a substantial contribution from cooking and smoking. The PM(10) concentrations were significantly higher in houses without a chimney compared to houses in which cooking occurred on a stove with a chimney. However, no significant differences in pollutant concentrations were observed as a function of cooking location. Furthermore, PM(10) and NO(2) concentrations were higher in houses in which smoking occurred, suggestive of a relationship between increased indoor concentrations and smoking (0.05 < p < 0.10). Resuspension of dust from soil floors was another significant source of PM(10) inside the house (634 μg m(-3), p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane Queensland, 4001, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morawska
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mengersen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tayphasavanh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Darasavong
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos; D008297:Male; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide