1.Determination of concentrations of indoor air pollutants emitted from briquette combustion
Oyun-Erdene O ; Chinzorig B ; Barkhasragchaa B ; Tumendelger D ; Solongo Ch ; Anu B ; Burmaajav B ; Suvd B
Mongolian Medical Sciences 2022;199(1):53-61
Introduction:
This field assessment was performed to ensure the effective implementation of Order No. A/142 of the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia dated 30th December 2021 and Order No. A/01 of the Head of the National Committee for Reducing Environmental Pollution dated 3rd January 2022 and to monitor the level of indoor air pollutants emitted from traditional stoves and standard stoves.
Purpose:
To determine the level of indoor air pollutants emitted from briquette combustion and to develop recommendations by comparing various types of stoves and dwellings.
Materials and Methods:
Through analytical cross-sectional designs, three households from Songinokhairkhan district and one household from Chingeltei district were selected to participate in this assessment as they use briquettes for heating, vary in their dwelling types (ger (traditional Mongolian tent), house) and their stove types (traditional, standard), stay home during the day and chose to participate in the assessment. 24-hour continuous measurements were conducted for each dwelling and before taking measurements, we calibrated and adjusted the air suction velocity of the measuring instrument at the Central Metrology Laboratory. The monitor was placed at a distance of 0.5m from the stove and a height of 0.5-1.0m from the floor. The results were then compared with the Mongolian National Standard “General air quality and technical requirements MNS4585:2016” and WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality 2021. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 software, mean, ANOVA test, and if the p-value is less than 0.05, our results are statistically significant.
Results:
The concentration level of SO2 in houses with “Dul” stoves was within the level specified in the Mongolian standard MNS4585: 2016 and WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality 2021, while 24-hour SO2 concentration in gers and houses with traditional stoves was 1.3-2.92 times higher than the standards. The 24-hour average concentration of nitrogen dioxide in houses with traditional stoves was 1.73 times higher than the Mongolian air quality standard MNS4585: 2016. There were statistically significant differences in the emission levels of SO2 and NO2 depending on dwelling and stove types (df=4, f=4.04, p=0.008 and df=4, f=17.17, p=0.001, respectively.). The 8-hour average (10,000 μg/m3) CO concentration was statistically significant for various types of dwellings and stoves (df=4, f=45.17, p=0.001), whereas there was a statistically significant difference in CO concentrations in gers with traditional stoves and gers with standard stoves in terms of morning, afternoon, and evening hours (df=3, f=33.17, p=0.001).
Conclusion
Indoor air pollutants in the households except for houses with “Dul” stoves have been determined to exceed the air quality standards set by the Mongolian air quality standards and WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality 2021.