Indoor Air Pollution and Health Risks among Rural Dwellers in Odeda Area, South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

This study monitored the concentration of five greenhouse gases and examined the health outcome among the exposed rural residents. A total of 15 villages were randomly selected from the list of villages without electricity supply in Odeda local government area, Ogun State (southwestern Nigeria). Gasman auto sampler was used to monitor indoor air quality in houses selected through systematic random sampling. Air monitoring was observed in replicates over a period of three months. In order to elicit information on energy utilization and occurrence of air pollution related health problems among the rural dwellers, one questionnaire was administered to a male or female household head in each selected house. Due to absence of reliable health records in the area, recall method was used collect information on the health problems treated and or experienced by village dwellers. The mean values of SO2, NO2, CO, H2S and CH4 are 0.05±0.005, 0.21±0.013, 82.5±1.98, 0.15±0.009 and 0.15±0.01 among the fifteen villages. Although there were no significant variations in the concentration of these gases among the villages, they were all above the recommended National Ambient Air standards. The trend of indoor air pollution may not be unconnected with 83.3 percent of the residents depending on fuel-wood for energy supply. Overall, more than one-quarter of the residents cook within their dwelling units. Prevalent health problems among the residents included sneezing (44%), nausea(34%), headache (34%), dizziness (31.1%), eye irritation (23.3%), and catarrh (24%) among others. These health problems are largely consequences of human exposure to high concentration of gaseous pollutants in the air. Intervention to control rural indoor air pollution requires urgent attention so as to preserve the health of teeming rural inhabitants and safeguard the overall environment.Key words: Indoor environment, air quality, rural health, fuel-wood