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Indoor coal use and early childhood growth

Rakesh Ghosh1, E Amirian, Miroslav Dostal

  • 1Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|February 9, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Indoor coal burning for home heating is linked to reduced height in young children. This pollution may negatively impact skeletal growth up to 36 months of age, posing public health concerns globally.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Indoor air pollution from coal combustion is a widespread concern.
  • Early childhood growth is sensitive to environmental exposures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between indoor coal combustion for heating and early childhood growth.
  • To determine the impact of coal-related air pollutants on children's physical development.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective longitudinal study of 1133 children from birth to 36 months.
  • Growth measurements (height-for-age z-score) extracted from medical records.
  • Maternal reports of indoor coal use for heating collected via questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • Indoor coal use was significantly associated with lower height-for-age z-scores at 36 months (-0.37).
  • This corresponds to an approximate height reduction of 1.3 cm in children exposed to indoor coal combustion.
  • The effect of coal use on height was modified by postnatal cigarette smoke exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Pollution from indoor coal combustion may impair skeletal growth in early childhood.
  • The findings highlight potential public health consequences, given the global prevalence of indoor coal use.
  • Interventions to reduce indoor air pollution from coal could support healthy child development.
Abstract

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