Domestic fuels, indoor air pollution, and children's health
Bijaya Kumar Padhi1, Pratap Kumar Padhy
1Centre for Environmental Studies, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan West Bengal, India. padhypk@gmail.com
Insights
Indoor air pollution from solid biomass fuel significantly harms children
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Solid biomass fuel use for cooking and heating is prevalent in developing countries, leading to high indoor air pollution levels.
- Children in these regions are particularly vulnerable to the adverse health effects of indoor air pollution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between household biomass fuel use and respiratory symptoms and diseases in children in rural India.
- To assess the impact of biomass fuel smoke exposure on lung function parameters in children.
Main Methods:
- Air quality parameters (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, SO2, O3, SPM) were measured.
- A study involved 750 households and 1505 children, using modified ISAAC and IUATLD questionnaires for respiratory health assessment.
- Lung function tests (PEF, FVC, FEV1, FEF, SVC) were conducted using an electronic Spiro Meter.
Main Results:
- Biomass fuel smoke exposure was significantly associated with a decline in lung function.
- Children from households using biomass fuels showed a higher prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma (OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.16, 4.19) and other respiratory diseases compared to those using liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
Conclusions:
- Exposure to cooking smoke from biomass combustion negatively impacts children's respiratory health.
- Biomass fuel use is a significant risk factor for respiratory diseases and reduced lung function in children in rural India.
Abstract:
Reliance on solid biomass fuel for cooking and heating exposes many children of developing countries to high levels of indoor air pollution. This study investigates the association between household use of biomass fuels for cooking and prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases among children in rural India. The air-quality parameters (CO, CO(2), NO, NO(2), SO(2), O(3), suspended particulate matter (SPM), including temperature and relative humidity) were investigated using a YES-Plus multigas air-quality monitor for gaseous and Kimoto handy samplers (HS-7) for TSPM. Seven hundred fifty households and 1505 children were selected for this study. A questionnaire developed on the pattern of the the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) with some modifications were used for evaluation of respiratory health. The lung function parameters, namely, PEF, FVC, FEV(1), FEF, and SVC were examined on an electronic Spiro Meter (Maestro Medline Ltd.). Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of suffering from respiratory infections among children from households using biomass fuels relative to children from households using liquified petroleum gas (LPG), after controlling for potentially confounding factors. The study suggests that exposure to cooking smoke from biomass combustion is significantly associated with decline in lung function and prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma (OR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.16, 4.19) and other respiratory diseases.
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