Characterization of Particulate Matter in Indoor Air from Cooking Activities in Rural Indonesian Households

Indoor air pollution remains a critical health issue in the rural areas of low- and middle-income countries like Indonesia, where solid fuels are commonly used for cooking. This study assessed real-time indoor particulate matter (PM) concentrations in three rural households in Jorong V Botung, West Sumatra, using PurpleAir low-cost sensors (PurpleAir Inc., Draper, UT, USA). Mass concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, along with size-segregated number concentrations (0.3–10 µm), were monitored continuously over six days (30 March–4 April 2024) during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which involves extensive cooking activities. PM2.5 concentrations frequently exceeded 200 µg/m3, with a peak of 249.9 µg/m3 recorded during morning cooking hours. The smallest particle size (0.3–0.5 µm) dominated number concentrations, reaching up to 17,098 particles/dL, while larger particle levels were significantly lower. Strong positive correlations (r > 0.95) were observed among PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and AQI, indicating that cooking emissions substantially contributed to indoor PM levels. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including clean fuel subsidies, improved ventilation, and public awareness efforts. This study contributes critical data on indoor air quality in rural Indonesia and supports broader initiatives to reduce exposure to household air pollution in Southeast Asia.