[Indoor air quality in restaurant kitchens in the south Tehran [2006]]

ABSTRACT

Generally nitrogen dioxide [NO2] and carbon monoxide [CU] are emitted Toxic gases like carbon monoxide [CO.], carbon dioxide [CO2], nitrogen oxides [NOx] will remain in the kitchen when cooking with a gas stove. The purpose of the present study was to measure carbon monoxide [CU] and nitrogen dioxide [NO2] levels during the operation of cooking in restaurant kitchens that use gas or natural gas, which are widely used in Tehran. One hundred thirty one restaurants were chosen randomly from a list of 276 restaurants in five region different geographic categories, of the metropolitan Tehran, area, in summer 2006. Simultaneous indoor and outdoor air sampling occurred at each sampling site. Carbon monoxide [CU] and nitrogen dioxide [NO2] concentrations were measured by a real-time analyzer portable computer monitors. The results of this study showed that%83 and%68 kitchens had local exhaust ventilation and fan system, respectively. The results of this study showed that the mean concentrations of CU and NO2 with gas stoves for food cooking in restaurant kitchens were below the standard which was established as TLV-TWA25 and 3 ppm, respectively by ACG IH. The 1/0 ratios of CO and NO2, were larger than 1 when there were indoor sources. In this study, the mean levels of CO and NO2 indoor were upper than the CU and NO2 outdoor the restaurants. Generally, improved methods of cooking besides appropriate ventilation of all indoor combustion appliances, including gas stoves, should be adopted in industrial kitchens