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Respiratory symptoms in Indian children exposed to different cooking fuels
1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India.
Insights
Indoor air pollution from fuel smoke significantly impacts children's respiratory health. Kerosene and mixed fuels are linked to increased respiratory symptoms and illnesses in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Indoor air pollution from fuel combustion is a significant global health concern.
- Children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollutants due to their developing respiratory systems.
- Understanding the link between household fuel use and childhood respiratory illness is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between household fuel types and respiratory symptoms in children.
- To determine if specific fuel emissions contribute to increased incidence of respiratory illness and altered pulmonary function in children.
- To identify high-risk fuel categories impacting pediatric respiratory health.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 200 children aged 7-15 years.
- Children were randomly selected and stratified based on household fuel usage (e.g., kerosene, mixed fuels).
- Respiratory symptoms were assessed using the American Thoracic Society-recommended questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Children from households using kerosene (52%) and mixed fuels (46%) reported the highest prevalence of respiratory symptoms.
- Frequent occurrences of cough, cold, congestion, or phlegm lasting one week or more were most common in children using mixed fuels, followed by kerosene.
- All fuel groups exhibited varying degrees of respiratory symptoms, indicating a widespread issue.
Conclusions:
- Household use of kerosene and mixed fuels has the most detrimental effects on children's respiratory systems.
- Exposure to indoor air pollution from these fuels is associated with increased respiratory morbidity in children.
- Public health strategies should focus on reducing exposure to harmful emissions from kerosene and mixed fuels in households with children.
Abstract:
Smoke emission from fuels is an important source of indoor air pollution. Children spend considerable time indoors. It is therefore important to determine whether air contaminants from indoor air sources affect incidence of respiratory illness, cause symptoms and changes in pulmonary function status in them. Two hundred children in the age group of 7-15 were selected randomly. They were stratified according to the fuel used in their homes and respiratory symptoms were inquired from them according to a questionnaire recommended by the American Thoracic Society. The most symptomatic children were those whose households used kerosene (52%) and mixed fuels (46%) although different symptoms were present in varying extent in all 4 groups of children. Cough, cold, congestion or phlegm for one week or more occurred more frequently with mixed fuel use followed by kerosene. The present study thus showed that mixed fuel and kerosene fuel had worst effects on respiratory system in children whose households used these fuels.