Investigation of Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5) and Gaseous Pollutants (CO2 & CO) in Houses Using Kerosene Cooking Stoves & Wood Fire in Attisa 3, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The essence of this study is to ascertain the possible presence of Particulate Matter (PM 10 and PM2.5) and CO₂ and CO as Gaseous Pollutants emitted to the indoor environment as a result of the use of wood fire and cooking stoves as compared to the WHO standard guidelines as adopted by European Parliament 2008, in three communities in ward 3 in Yenagoa City Council area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Samplings were carried out using Dustmate for PM 10 and PM 2.5 and KANE 100-1 Gas Analyser and Logger for CO₂ and CO capturing in 6 hours per day. Each sampled point was randomly selected as houses/kitchens using wood fire and kerosene cooking stoves. The results were compared to WHO Guidelines as adopted by the European Parliament 2008, for the allowable limits of the indoor high and low assessment threshold levels. Sampled results show that gaseous pollutants under investigation in the three communities show that CO recorded high risk in houses/kitchens using Kerosene Cooking Stoves over houses/kitchens using wood fire. That is, it could have resulted in periods of putting off Stoves that produce incombustible CO. However, CO₂ was reasonably in order except for a few cases. In the same vein, PM10 was all within or below the WHO Guidelines, but PM 2.5 recorded very high-risk results on both houses/kitchens using Kerosene Cooking Stoves as well as houses/kitchens using wood fire.