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Biomass fuel use and the risk of asthma in Nigerian children

Jesse D Thacher1, Anders Emmelin, Aboi J K Madaki

  • 1Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels Väg 13, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden.

Respiratory Medicine
|October 8, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Biomass fuel smoke exposure in Nigerian children was not linked to increased asthma symptoms or airway obstruction. However, lifetime smoke exposure may affect lung function in females and older children.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Biomass fuel smoke exposure is a known risk factor for childhood respiratory infections.
  • The association between biomass fuel smoke and childhood asthma remains unclear.
  • This study investigated biomass fuel use and its impact on asthma in Nigerian children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between biomass fuel use and asthma symptoms in Nigerian children.
  • To assess the association between biomass fuel smoke exposure and lung function (airway obstruction) in this population.
  • To identify potential risk factors for asthma in children exposed to biomass fuel smoke.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 299 children aged 5-11 years in North Central Nigeria.
  • Data collection included cooking fuel types, daily smoke exposure duration, and asthma symptoms via a modified ISAAC questionnaire.
  • Lung function was evaluated using spirometry to measure forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV6).

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of a lifetime history of wheeze was 9.4%, and 4.7% of children exhibited airway obstruction.
  • Female children had significantly lower predicted FEV1 and FEV6 values compared to males.
  • Advancing age was associated with a decline in predicted FEV1.
  • No significant association was found between daily firewood use and increased asthma symptoms or airway obstruction.

Conclusions:

  • Daily biomass fuel smoke exposure was not significantly associated with increased asthma symptoms or airway obstruction in Nigerian children.
  • Lifetime smoke exposure might contribute to reduced spirometric values observed in female subjects and with increasing age.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the long-term respiratory effects of biomass fuel smoke exposure in vulnerable populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
AfricaEpidemiologyIndoor air pollutionLung volume measurements

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