Indoor air quality monitoring of communities surrounding a coal-fired power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The study evaluated the quality of indoor air in households surrounding a coal-fired power plant in Pagbilao, Quezon and its impact to the residents in these communities.  METHODS: The researchers used a quantitative approach and gathered both primary and secondary data from the Province of Quezon, Municipalities of Pagbilao and Padre Burgos and 12 other barangays from January to June 2008. A household survey was conducted to obtain the health and socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. Likewise, indoor air quality surveys, respiratory health profiling and pulmonary function tests were done. Indoor air quality monitoring measured eight hour levels of particulate matter -10 (PM10) in "near" and "far" barangays and sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in two primary impact barangays as indicated in the environmental impact assessment of the power plant.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results showed that there is no significant difference (p=