Analysing people’s behaviour towards indoor air quality management: a case study in Kandy, Kurunagala and Hambanthota

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) management is crucial for ensuring a healthy and comfortable living environment. This study aimed to assess people's behaviours on IAQ management by investigating their awareness, attitudes, and practices. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to gather data on IAQ-related habits and practices of individuals in Kurunagala-Abanpola, Kandy-Bothota, and Hamabnthtoa-Thangalle. The sample population was 156. The awareness of respondents regarding indoor air quality varied among the sampling locations. Awareness levels in Ambanpola, Bothtoa, and Thanagalle were 80%, 34.62%, and 82.14% respectively. Major sources of indoor air pollution also varied, with tobacco smoke usage (34.62%) and cooking emissions being predominant in Kandy-Bothota, while pollution associated with household cleaning products (32%) was identified as a major source in Kurunagala-Ambanpola. In contrast, cooking smoke (25%) and, cleaning products (21.43%) were identified as major indoor air pollutant sources in Hambanthtoa-Thangalle. In addition, outdoor activities such as the open burning of plastic waste, also impact indoor air quality. The majority of the respondents (42.31%) in the Kandy-Bothota region burned their plastic waste close to their dwellings, whereas the Kurunegala-Abanpola region had the lowest proportion, at 3.57%. The findings underscore varying levels of awareness among participants, largely attributed to a lack of information accessibility. The attitudes towards IAQ management were generally positive. However, the survey revealed that practical implementation of IAQ measures often fell short, indicating a gap between intention and behaviour