Abstract :

Indoor air pollution is a significant and often overlooked environmental concern that has far-reaching implications for human health. In Bangladesh, indoor air pollution is one of the greatest environmental health risks. The study aims to provide insights into the specific ways in which indoor air pollution affects women’s health and well-being, as well as to identify potential strategies for mitigating these effects. With a focus on the diverse sources of indoor pollutants and their potential health effects. This qualitative research paper describes the impact of indoor air pollution on women’s health, focusing on the experiences, perceptions, and challenges faced by women in relation to their indoor living environments. This research used a qualitative approach, descriptive type research, purposive sampling strategy, and utilizing semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. A sample size of 50 women is targeted, with data saturation as the criterion for stopping data collection. Thematic analysis is used to analyze the interview transcripts. A critical analysis of the health effects of indoor air pollution on women is presented, encompassing consequences. The effects include exacerbation of respiratory conditions, allergies, eye and skin irritations. In conclusion, this research paper emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between indoor air pollution and women’s health. It underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among public health experts, environmental scientists, policymakers, and advocates to develop effective strategies that safeguard women’s well-being.

---

Keywords :

Eye and nose irritation, Indoor air pollution, Pollutant particles, Proper ventilation, Respiratory infection, Women’s health.

---

References :

1. Agarwal, S., Sing, T. F., & Yang, Y. (2020). The impact of transboundary haze pollution on household utilities consumption. Energy Economics, 85, 104591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2019.104591
2. Alharthi, M., Hanif, I., & Alamoudi, H. (2022). Impact of environmental pollution on human health and financial status of households in MENA countries: Future of using renewable energy to eliminate the environmental pollution. Renewable Energy, 190, 338–346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.03.118
3. Ali, M. U., Yu, Y., Yousaf, B., Munir, M. a. M., Ullah, S., Chen, K., Kuang, X., & Wong, M. H. (2021). Health impacts of indoor air pollution from household solid fuel on children and women. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416, 126127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126127
4. Barnes, J., & Smith, K. (1994). What makes people cook with improved biomass stoves? A comparative international review of stove programes. Energy serise, 1247, 45-90. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0051529
5. Browna, E. F., Gonzaleza, R. R., Burkmana, T., & Perez, T. (2020). Comparing nutritional levels in a commercially-availablesingle-serve meal using microwave versus conventionaloven heating. JOURNAL OF MICROWAVE POWER AND ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY, 99-109.
6. Bruce, N. (2000). Indoor air pollution in developing countries: a major environmental and public health challenge. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2560841/
7. Bryant, K. (1996). Impact of air pollution on women’s health. Society for the Advancement of Women’s Health Research. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 114(2), 267–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0194-59989670181-x
8. Chaudhary, E., Dey, S., & Ghosh, S. (2022, August). Reducing the burden of anaemia in Indian women of reproductive age with clean-air targets. Nature Sustainability, 5(11), 939-946.
9. Chen, B. H, Hong, C. J, Pandey, Mrigendra Raj & Smith, Kirk R. (‎1990)‎.Indoor air pollution in developing countries. World health statistics quarterly 1990; 43(‎3)‎: 127-138 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/51744
10. Dey, N. C., Ali, A. R., & Ahmed, a. S. (2017, December). Women’s Knowledge and Perceived Health Effects from Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution: Findings from a Population-based Cross- sectional Survey in Rural Bangladesh. Journal of Health Science & Education, 1(1), 1-5. doi:10.0000/JHSE.1000105
11. Fullerton, D., Bruce, N., & Gordon, S. B. (2008). Indoor air pollution from biomass fuel smoke is a major health concern in the developing world. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 102(9), 843–851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.028
12. Junaid, M., Syed, J. H., Abbasi, N. A., Hashmi, M. Z., Malik, R. N., & Pei, D. (2018). Status of indoor air pollution (IAP) through particulate matter (PM) emissions and associated health concerns in South Asia. Chemosphere, 191, 651–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.097
13. Khan, N., Nurs, C. Z. B., Islam, M. M., Islam, R., & Rahman, M. (2017). Household air pollution from cooking and risk of adverse health and birth outcomes in Bangladesh: a nationwide population-based study. Environmental Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-017-0272-y
14. Kumar, P., Singh, A., Arora, T., Singh, S., & Singh, R. (2023). Critical review on emerging health effects associated with the indoor air quality and its sustainable management. Science of the Total Environment, 872, 162163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162163
15. Mannucci, P. M., Harari, S., Martinelli, I., & Franchini, M. (2015). Effects on health of air pollution: a narrative review. Internal and Emergency Medicine, 10(6), 657–662. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-015-1276-7
16. Molla, M. A. (2022, June 4). Over 90,000 deaths in Bangladesh caused by indoor air pollution in 2019. The Daily Star. https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/pollution/air-pollution/news/invisible-killer-our-homes-3038686
17. Nahian, M. A., Ahmad, T., Jahan, I., Chakraborty, N., Nahar, Q., & Streatfield, P. K. (2023). Air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 9, 100187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2022.100187

18. Lam, N. P., Smith, K. R., Gauthier, A., & Bates, M. (2012). Kerosene: A Review of Household Uses and their Hazards in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health-part B-critical Reviews, 15(6), 396–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2012.710134
19. Perez-Padilla, R., Schilmann, A., & Riojas-Rodriguez, H. (2010). Respiratory health effects of indoor air pollution. National Center for Biotechnology Information, 14(9).
20. Rouse, J. R. (2005). Indoor Air Pollution: Issues for Bangladesh. Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC), UK.
21. Sidhu, M. K., Ravindra, K., Mor, S., & John, S. (2017). Household air pollution from various types of rural kitchens and its exposure assessment. Science of the Total Environment, 586, 419–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.051
22. Suresh, R., Singh, V. K., Malik, J., Datta, A., & Pal, R. (2016). Evaluation of the performance of improved biomass cooking stoves with different solid biomass fuel types. Biomass & Bioenergy, 95, 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.08.002

23. Thornburg, J., Islam, S., Billah, S. M., Chan, B., McCombs, M., Abbott, M., Alam, A., & Raynes-Greenow, C. (2022). Pregnant women’s exposure to household air pollution in rural Bangladesh: a feasibility study for Poriborton: the CHANge Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1),
24. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010482
25. (2020). World Health Organization.
26. Yamamoto, S., Phalkey, R., & Malik, A. (2014). A systematic review of air pollution as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in South Asia: Limited evidence from India and Pakistan. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 217(2–3), 133–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.08.003.
27. Zaidi, S. M. A., Moin, O., & Khan, J. A. (2011). Second-hand smoke in indoor hospitality venues in Pakistan. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 15(7), 972–977. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.10.0524
28. Zhang, J. J., & Smith, K. R. (2003). Indoor air pollution: a global health concern. British Medical Bulletin, 68(1), 209–225. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldg0