Submicrometer PM1.0 Exposure from Household Burning of Solid Fuels

Exposure to household air pollution from solid fuel use is a leading environmental risk factor causing millions of premature deaths, mostly in developing countries. Health hazards in particulate matter (PM) exposure are associated with not only particle mass but also physicochemical properties like particle size and the abundance of toxic components. This study evaluated personal exposure to submicrometer PM1.0 and particulate PAHs in the population burning solid fuels at home. Due to significant impacts of indoor burning sources, high-submicrometer PM1.0 fractions were revealed in inhaled air. Even compared to the daily PM2.5 standard of 75 mu g/m(3), the exposure level of PM1.0 in the studied rural population could, on average, exceed the standard by a factor of 2.9 in winter. Linear mixed model analysis confirmed significant impacts of household energy types. The PM1.0 exposure in the population using solid fuels was significantly higher than, by a factor of 2.0, those using clean fuels such as LPG and electricity. The difference in particulate benzo[a]pyrene between the polluted and clean fuel groups was even larger, suggesting potentially greater health benefits associated with PAH exposure under clean household energy transitions