PARTICULATE MATTER AND GASEOUS CONTAMINANTS IN INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS IN AN ISOLATED NORTHERN COMMUNITY

Objectives. Globally, 86% of exposure to particulate matter (PM) occurs indoors. Wood furnaces and smoke curing are known sources of PM in isolated communities in northern Canada. Study Design. Three homes with wood furnaces, three with oil furnaces, and nine tipis (smoke curing huts) in Deline, Northwest Territories were sampled for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, total hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, and for PM of less than 10 microns in diameter (PM 10 ). Results. All gaseous contaminants were below relevant air quality standards. In contrast, all but one environment had PM 10 concentra- tions above standards. The presence of smokers correlated with higher PM 10 levels within fuel categories. PM 10 did not differ significantly between heating types (means, 0.12-0.53 mg/m 3 ). Exposures to PM 10 in tipis averaged 2.3 mg/m 3 . Conclusion. Residents were exposed to substantial concentrations of PM 10 from cigarette smoking, wood stoves, and smoke curing. Concentrations were within the range where respiratory symptoms have been observed. Measures to reduce exposure should consider prevention of adverse health effects and preservation of traditional activities. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2003; 62(2):120-129) Keywords: indoor air quality, particulate matter, PM10, smoke curing, wood stoves