Navajo Coal Combustion and Respiratory Health Near Shiprock, New Mexico

Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Environmental and Public Health

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/260525· OSTI ID:1198468

Bunnell, Joseph E. ^[1]; Garcia, Linda V. ^[2]; Furst, Jill M. ^[3]; Lerch, Harry ^[1]; Olea, Ricardo A. ^[1]; Suitt, Stephen E. ^[1]; Kolker, Allan ^[1]

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1. Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop 956, Reston, VA 20192, USA
2. Diné Environmental Institute, Diné College, 1228 Yucca Street, P.O. Box 580, Shiprock, NM 87420, USA
3. School of Public Health, George Washington University, 2300 I Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA

Indoor air pollution has been identified as a major risk factor for acute and chronic respiratory diseases throughout the world. In the sovereign Navajo Nation, an American Indian reservation located in the Four Corners area of the USA, people burn coal in their homes for heat. To explore whether/how indoor coal combustion might contribute to poor respiratory health of residents, this study examined respiratory health data, identified household risk factors such as fuel and stove type and use, analyzed samples of locally used coal, and measured and characterized fine particulate airborne matter inside selected homes. In twenty-five percent of homes surveyed coal was burned in stoves not designed for that fuel, and indoor air quality was frequently found to be of a level to raise concerns. The average winter 24-hour ${\text{PM}}_{2.5}$ concentration in 20 homes was 36.0  $\mu$ g/ ${\text{m}}^3$ . This is the first time that ${\text{PM}}_{2.5}$ has been quantified and characterized inside Navajo reservation residents' homes.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1198468
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental and Public Health, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental and Public Health Vol. 2010; ISSN 1687-9805
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Country of Publication: Egypt
• Language: English