Indoor Air Quality Assessment and Health impact in context to Household conditions in Lucknow

To assess the indoor air quality an investigation was conducted in Lucknow from November 2014 to October 2015. In total seven pollutants viz. SO2, NO2, CO2, CO, NH3, H2S, PM10 and PM2.5 were assessed in five urban and five rural houses. House selection was done after questionnaire survey with respiratory patients in two medical colleges. The average concentrations of PM10 (280 and 315 µg m-3) and PM2.5 (185 and 210 µg m-3) were highest in winter season. Excessive consumption of crude fuel to combat cold conditions was associated with high particulate concentrations in rural houses. Smoking was a common habit recognized indoors. Skin irritation was common during rainy season whereas complaints of cataract, cough and sneezing were prevalent in winters. Air quality index was calculated using three different methods and was poorest in winter season in rural houses particularly with values 716.1, 457.0 and 7.427 as calculated.