A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN THE SLUM AREAS OF CHITTAGONG

Abstract

While air pollution has been a matter of scrupulous concern because of its irreparable drawbacks, indoor air pollution is often disregarded as harmful as outdoor air pollution. As a result of the detrimental impacts of indoor air pollution, people, especially residents of poorer households, staying at home for a substantial amount of time are exposed to toxic reagents (for example- carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide) that exacerbates their health problems. The idea of this research is to assess Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in the slum areas of Chittagong, Bangladesh, and highlight distinct problems faced by the residents of those residences, relating to indoor air pollution. The field research is conducted in the households of four slums areas of Chittagong which are socially and culturally diverse in background and have various practices of household maintenance such as cooking practices with solid fuels, biomass, electricity, LPG, charcoal etc. Other practices include use of insect repellent, improper waste management and ventilation system. Findings of this study provoked emergence of several health issues and degraded standard of living, pertinent to the sources and consequences of indoor air pollution there. Interviews of the members of those households in the slums based on survey questionnaire have included the quotidian issues that they combat pertaining to indoor air pollution.