Abstract:
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, worldwide,
approximately 50% of all households and 90% of rural
households burn solid fuels as a primary source of energy. In
South Africa, data collected during a national census showed
that a high proportion of the population use wood, coal or
animal dung as fuel for cooking and space heating, the majority
of whom reside in rural areas. During the combustion of solid
fuels indoors, high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) are
released inside the dwellings. Therefore, occupants are exposed
to significant health risks that result from personal exposure
to PM. This study assessed indoor air quality in rural Giyani,
situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa, by monitoring
indoor PM4 concentrations, temperature and relative humidity.
These were recorded daily in summer (February), spring
(September) and winter (July).
