Indoor Air Quality and ventilation assessment of rural mountainous households of Nepal

The mean CO and PM2.5 concentration for ICS and TCS are 27.11 ppm and 825.4 μg/m3 (27.11 ± 14.24 ppm and 825.4 ± 730.9 μg/m3) with significant correlation (p < 0.0001) and 36.03 ppm and 1336 μg/m3 (36.03 ± 19.06 and 1336 ± 952.8) with significant correlation (p < 0.0481), respectively. From the overall sample, the mean CO and PM2.5 concentration is reduced by 29.9% and 39%, respectively. The ventilation analysis result shows more than an 80 percentage deficit in ventilation as per the minimal rate of ventilation as prescribed by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Moreover, the placement of chimney at a short vertical height of 1.2 m adjoining to back window is the major cause of backflow. Therefore, the study has recommended a greater focus on ventilation to control IAQ of rural mountainous households.