Abstract:
Biomass burning as fuel in the traditional grass-roofed rural households of Western
Province of Kenya in open fire places, in poorly ventilated conditions, lead to accumulation
of soot under the roofs. This study characterized and quantified the polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) in accumulated soot in these households and determined the
variation in PAHs concentrations with fuel biomass type. Soot samples collected from the
households were extracted, cleaned and analysed by gas chromatography. The PAHs were
identified using retention times, verified by gas chromatographic mass spectral analysis and
quantified from peak area responses using the internal standard method. The PAHs levels
significantly varied (P≤ 0.05) with biomass type in the order: dung≥ indigenous trees≥
exotic trees≥ shrubs and crop residues. Use of dung and wood from indigenous trees as …