Personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide from indoor heaters and cooking stoves

The personal exposure to NO2 generated from various heaters and cooking stoves were studied, using 85 university students. The students attached NO2 filter badges to their chests or collars and wrote down the period of time for heating and cooking for 1 week. Types of heaters and smoking habits were described through a questionnaire. The urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio (HOP/C) was examined as a biomarker for health effects. The outdoor NO2 concentration during the study period was 13.5-13.7 micrograms/m3. Smoking and the usage of electric heaters did not affect the exposure to NO2. Exposure increased according to the length of time kerosene heaters or oil fan heaters were used. The NO2 concentration during the heating by a kerosene heater and an oil fan heater was calculated to be 219 and 474 micrograms/m3, respectively. The correlation between the period of cooking and personal exposure was also observed. The NO2 levels during cooking were calculated to be 290 micrograms/m3. Using these calculated values of NO2 concentration, it is possible to presume the personal exposure levels from the length of time heaters and cooking stoves are used even if the subjects do not attach the filter badges. Neither smoking nor exposure to NO2 were associated with the increase of urinary HOP/C.