Chemical characterization of biomass fuel particulate deposits and ashes in households of Mt. Everest region (NEPAL)

•OC, EC, PAHs, elements, anions and cations analysed in particulate deposits and ashes collected in the Mt. Everest region.•Indoor particulate deposits composition compared with outdoor particulate deposits one.•The OC average indoor concentration is more of double of the OC average outdoor one.•Higher PAH concentrations in indoor and ash samples than outdoor: biomass combustion as main PAHs source in outdoor deposits.•Biomass burning is the largest contributor of K+ to atmosphere particulate matter.

During a sampling campaign, carried out during June 2012, inside some traditional households located in four villages (Phakding, Namche, Pangboche and Tukla) of Mt. Everest region in southern part of the central Himalaya (Nepal), particulate matter (PM) depositions and ashes have been collected. Moreover, outdoor PM depositions have also been analyzed. Chemical characterization of PM depositions and ashes for major ions, organic carbon, elemental carbon (EC), metal content and PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) allowed identifying, as major contributes to indoor PM, the following sources: biomass burning, cooking and chimney ashes. These sources significantly affect outdoor PM depositions: in-house biomass burning is the major source for outdoor EC and K+ as well as biomass burning and cooking activities are the major sources for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

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