**3. Indoor air pollution**

Indoor air pollution refers to the amount of chemical, biological and physical contaminants in the air inside a building. There is a wide range of indoor air pollutant sources in houses including building materials, furniture, central heating and cooling systems, household cleaning products, paints, tobacco smoke, office machines and a variety of other products used in daily activities (EPA, 2009).

Nigeria, unlike the developed countries is faced with several environmental, social and economic challenges such as inadequate electric power supply, poor waste disposal system, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, unemployment, inadequate of water supply, etc. [67]. Most households in Nigerian cities operate small capacity fossil fuel electric power generators for electricity supply (ECN, 2009).

A study carried out by [67], revealed that small household generators in Nigeria operate an average of 6 h daily, while the average distance of generator away from building was 5.6 m. These alongside poor ventilation have influenced the quality of indoor air in the households [46].

Another major source of pollution in the indoor environment is household combustion of coal or biomass for cooking and heating. It is estimated that more than 50% of the world's popu‐ lation depends on animal dung, wood, crop waste or coal to meet their most basic energy needs (WHO, 2005). Firewood combustion for cooking is a common practice in most rural commun‐ ities of developing nations including Nigeria. Its use as an energy source is widely reported to impinge on the environment, particularly the quality of air and the health of populations especially women [5].

Based on a study designed to determine exposure to emissions from firewood cooking stove and the pulmonary health of women in Olorunda community in Ibadan, Nigeria, [5] found that the mean CO levels for fire wood stove emissions at six kitchen locations combined were 20.0±0.8 ppm (morning) and 24.2 ± 0.5 ppm (evening). These values were 2 and 2.4-folds higher, respectively, than the World Health Organization (WHO) limit of 10 ppm. The mean SO2 levels for firewood stove emissions at the six locations were 0.505 ppm (morning) and 0.683 ppm (evening). These values were 6.3- and 8.5-folds higher, respectively, than the WHO limit of 0.08 ppm. The mean NO2 levels for firewood stove emissions at the six locations were 0.517 ppm (morning) and 0.81 7 ppm (evening). These values were 25- and 41-fold higher, respec‐ tively, than the WHO limit of 0.02 ppm(Fig 1).

In this study, although the levels of NO2 were low, there was a significant negative correlation between NO2 and lung function (r = − 0.488), which indicated that chronic exposure to NO2 is likely to impair lung functions (Ana *et al.,* 2012).

#### Figure 1. Mean morning and evening gaseous concentrations at six kitchen locations in comparison with WHO limits Source : Ana *et al*., 2012

4. Housing and indoor air quality

information on the indoor air quality of living homes in the country.

(moisture, heat ventilation, etc.).

5. Indoor air environment

(Hoskins, 2007; Li et al., 2007).

However, information regarding IAQ in Nigeria is scanty. Aside from the data collected by a few individuals and corporate organisations at scattered locations, there is no comprehensive and empirical database on the magnitude of the health risks and deleterious effects associated with exposure to poor IAQ by occupants in different built environments and the general

Nigeria is located in western Africa on the Gulf of Guinea and has a total area of 923,768 km2

It shares a 4,047 km border with Benin (773 km), Niger (1497 km), Chad (87 km) and Cameroon (1690 km), with a coastline of at least 853 km. Nigeria lies between latitudes 4° and 14°N, and longitudes 2° and 15°E. Nigeria has about174 million inhabitants and is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. The country has over 500 ethnic groups, of which the three largest are the Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Nigeria is the 12th largest producer of petroleum in the world and the 8th largest exporter, and has the 10th largest proven reserves. Petroleum plays a large role in the Nigerian economy, accounting for

Indoor air pollution refers to the amount of chemical, biological and physical contaminants in the air inside a building. There is a wide range of indoor air pollutant sources in houses including building materials, furniture, central heating and cooling systems, household cleaning products, paints, tobacco smoke, office machines and a variety of other products used

Nigeria, unlike the developed countries is faced with several environmental, social and economic challenges such as inadequate electric power supply, poor waste disposal system, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, unemployment, inadequate of water supply, etc. [67]. Most households in Nigerian cities operate small capacity fossil fuel electric power

A study carried out by [67], revealed that small household generators in Nigeria operate an average of 6 h daily, while the average distance of generator away from building was 5.6 m. These alongside poor ventilation have influenced the quality of indoor air in the

Another major source of pollution in the indoor environment is household combustion of coal or biomass for cooking and heating. It is estimated that more than 50% of the world's popu‐ lation depends on animal dung, wood, crop waste or coal to meet their most basic energy needs (WHO, 2005). Firewood combustion for cooking is a common practice in most rural commun‐ ities of developing nations including Nigeria. Its use as an energy source is widely reported

.

population in Nigeria.

548 Current Air Quality Issues

**2. Brief profile of Nigeria**

**3. Indoor air pollution**

in daily activities (EPA, 2009).

households [46].

40% of GDP and 80% of Government earnings.

generators for electricity supply (ECN, 2009).

Source : Ana et al., 2012 **Figure 1.** Mean morning and evening gaseous concentrations at six kitchen locations in comparison with WHO limits

Housing is a place people spend most of their time and one of 'the main settings that affect human health' (Bonnefoy et al., 2003). It is well established that housing is a 'key determinant of health' (Smith et al., 1997). Good housing and good health go together (Smith et al., 1997). Housing, as a neglected site for public health action, has been identified in a number of recent publications (Breysse et al., 2005). Housing, however, encompasses a large range of factors, including biological (mould, cockroaches, dust mites, etc.), chemical (tobacco smoke, paints, etc.) and structural

A large number of the population in Nigeria resides in houses with poor housing conditions (as shown in Plates 1). Provision of adequate housing has been a problem in developing countries like Nigeria. Shortage of decent accommodation, particularly in cities, has resulted in individuals occupying bungalows or rooms above specified capacity. More so, in the quest to provide themselves with urgent accommodation, people have resorted to building houses outside required specifications and/or at indecent locations. Because of this problem, there is no available

Indoor environments are fundamental environmental factors capable of impacting health (Gocgeldi et al., 2011; Cobanglu and Kiper, 2006). Air quality of indoor environments is one of the main factors affecting the health, wellbeing and productivity of people. The effect on health rises as exposure to and density of air pollution increases

In indoor air environments (non-industrial), the most important source of airborne bacteria is the presence of humans (Kim and Kim, 2007). Major indoor activities such as talking, sneezing, coughing, etc. can concentrate airborne biological particulate matter in the indoor environment. House dust, pets and their bedding material, wood materials
