Study of Indoor Air Quality of Kitchens of Rural Area’s in Lucknow

Study deals with the assessment of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in terms of Particulate matter, Gaseous pollutants, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) during domestic combustions of biofuels (i.e. Fire wood, animal dung and Crop residues) in the cooking and non-cooking area of rural kitchens of the rural suburbs of Lucknow (North India). The indoor air samples of kitchens when analyzed for various pollutants, revealed very high concentrations of CO, CO2, NO2 and SO2 in cooking area (kitchen area) as compared to non-cooking area (living area). Burning of biofuels (Fire wood, animal dung and Crop residues) produced highest emission of PAH. Increment in PAH level was found in the cooking area (kitchen area) as compared to PAH level in the non-cooking area. The concentration of PM 10 in the indoor air sample was 3.7 times more than that found in the living area. Similarly, the concentration of PM2.5 was four times higher in kitchens using biomass during cooking hours.