Indoor air pollutant concentrations in living rooms during non-cooking periods and associated self-reported health problems in Jimma Town, Ethiopia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Most studies on indoor air pollution exposure have focused primarily on exposure occurring in kitchens and the associated health effects, particularly those resulting from household combustion activities. In contrast, research examining indoor air pollution exposure in living rooms represents an important research gap, as individuals may spend substantial amounts of time in living rooms and consequently experience prolonged exposure to pollutants from both indoor and outdoor sources. This study investigates the risk of household exposure to indoor air pollution from living rooms during non-cooking times in Jimma Town, Ethiopia. The research focuses on key determinants of indoor air pollution, including living room volume, ventilation characteristics, and the presence of non-combustible pollutants, and some other socioeconomic conditions. A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing systematic random sampling techniques to collect air pollution and relevant households’ characteristics data from 265 households in the town. The findings reveal that a significant proportion of households lack adequate ventilation and have smaller living rooms, either with an attached kitchen or without a kitchen altogether. Indoor air pollution was assessed by measuring Total Volatile Organic Carbon (TVOC) and Particulate Matter (PM 2.5−10 ). The results show that 36.2% of households have TVOC concentrations between 501 and 750 µg/m³, while PM concentrations predominantly fall within the 0.051-0.1 mg/m³ range (30.2%). Nearly 60% of the households live in smaller living rooms (below 60 m³) and 39.6% of households lacked proper ventilation. Moreover, 53.6% of households reported using insecticides, 81.5% used cleaning products, and 72.8% used personal care items like perfumes. Furthermore, 37% of respondents indicated that they lack a kitchen. Consequently, 46.4% of households reported respiratory and eye-related problems that could be associated with indoor air pollution. The findings indicate an urgent need for increased awareness regarding ventilation and the separate use of kitchens to minimize dual emission sources. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the necessity for further research involving locally contextualized interventions to provide evidence that can inform actionable policy. Given the cross-sectional design, the use of short-term spot measurements, and reliance on self-reported health symptoms, the findings should be interpreted as evidence of association rather than causation.
Source: BMC Public Health
Institution: Jimma University
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W7223959923