This paper presents the extent to which kitchen structures influence household exposure to firewood-induced volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The sample consisted of 69 firewood users who were conveniently sampled from Senwabarwana Villages. An Integrated Environmental Health Risk Assessment framework (IEHRA) was adopted as the research methods of the current study. The VOC samples were collected from selected priority firewood species used in the study area, namely mushu (Umbrella thorn), mohwelere (red bushwillow), moretshe (Sickle bush), motswiri (Leadwood) and mokgwa (Black monkey thorn). Four VOCs, namely benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were analysed from each of the selected plant species. Available literature shows that these VOCs are associated with the kind of common firewood used in the study area. The outcomes of this study reveal that mushu emits the highest concentration of the four selected VOCs, followed by moretshe, mohwelere, mokgwa and motswiri, respectively. The influence of kitchen structural factors such as number and positioning of windows, fireplace or stove type, roofing material and designs, among others on the concentration and indoor dispersion of VOCs was also investigated. Behavioural practices of households during fire making such as opening or closing of doors and windows during cooking, water heating and space heating were also found to influence exposure levels. Consequently, low VOCs emitting firewood species and kitchen structural designs have been confirmed as the key drivers of firewood-induced VOC exposure.

中文翻译：

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Senwabarwana 村庄厨房结构对家庭暴露于木柴诱发的挥发性有机化合物的影响

本文介绍了厨房结构对家庭暴露于木柴诱发的挥发性有机化合物 (VOC) 的影响程度。样本由 69 名柴火用户组成，他们是从 Senwabarwana 村庄方便地采样的。本研究采用综合环境健康风险评估框架（IEHRA）作为研究方法。VOC 样本采集自研究区使用的选定优先木柴品种，即 mushu（伞刺）、mohwelere（红灌木柳）、moretshe（镰刀灌木）、motswiri（Leadwood）和 mokgwa（黑猴刺）。从每个选定的植物物种中分析了四种 VOC，即苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯。现有文献表明，这些 VOC 与研究区域使用的常见木柴种类有关。这项研究的结果表明，在四种选定的 VOC 中，mushu 排放的浓度最高，其次是 moretshe、mohwelere、mokgwa 和 motswiri。还研究了厨房结构因素，如窗户的数量和位置、壁炉或炉子类型、屋顶材料和设计等对 VOC 浓度和室内扩散的影响。还发现家庭在生火过程中的行为习惯，例如在烹饪、水加热和空间加热过程中打开或关闭门窗，也会影响暴露水平。因此，低 VOC 排放的木柴种类和厨房结构设计已被确认为木柴引起的 VOC 暴露的关键驱动因素。分别是 mokgwa 和 motswiri。还研究了厨房结构因素，如窗户的数量和位置、壁炉或炉子类型、屋顶材料和设计等对 VOC 浓度和室内扩散的影响。还发现家庭在生火过程中的行为习惯，例如在烹饪、水加热和空间加热过程中打开或关闭门窗，也会影响暴露水平。因此，低 VOC 排放的木柴种类和厨房结构设计已被确认为木柴引起的 VOC 暴露的关键驱动因素。分别是 mokgwa 和 motswiri。还研究了厨房结构因素，如窗户的数量和位置、壁炉或炉子类型、屋顶材料和设计等对 VOC 浓度和室内扩散的影响。还发现家庭在生火过程中的行为习惯，例如在烹饪、水加热和空间加热过程中打开或关闭门窗，也会影响暴露水平。因此，低 VOC 排放的木柴种类和厨房结构设计已被确认为木柴引起的 VOC 暴露的关键驱动因素。除其他外，还研究了 VOC 的浓度和室内扩散。还发现家庭在生火过程中的行为习惯，例如在烹饪、水加热和空间加热过程中打开或关闭门窗，也会影响暴露水平。因此，低 VOC 排放的木柴种类和厨房结构设计已被确认为木柴引起的 VOC 暴露的关键驱动因素。除其他外，还研究了 VOC 的浓度和室内扩散。还发现家庭在生火过程中的行为习惯，例如在烹饪、水加热和空间加热过程中打开或关闭门窗，也会影响暴露水平。因此，低 VOC 排放的木柴种类和厨房结构设计已被确认为木柴引起的 VOC 暴露的关键驱动因素。