Respiratory symptoms associated with workplaces located along a road with high-traffic at Cotonou, Benin

Living or working along a main road with high traffic is harmful to health. The results of a logistic regression model show the presence of cough and itchy nose are highly significantly associated with location. The study shows there is a difference in the risk of respiratory symptoms working near traffic island roundabouts and outside roundabouts (defined as a traffic circle or road junction at which traffic moves in one direction around a central island to reach the converging roads). For the three roundabouts in the study (located downtown), with the most companies in town, there is heavy traffic observed especially at hours when businesses return to service

Prevalence and Population Attributable Risk for Chronic Airflow Obstruction in a Large Multinational Study

Rationale: The Global Burden of Disease programme identified smoking, and ambient and household air pollution as the main drivers of death and disability from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).Objective: To estimate the attributable risk of chronic airflow obstruction (CAO), a quantifiable characteristic of COPD, due to several risk factors.Methods: The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study is a cross-sectional study of adults, aged≥40, in a globally distributed sample of 41 urban and rural sites. Based on data from 28,459 participants, we estimated the prevalence of CAO, defined as a post-bronchodilator one-second forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity ratio Measurements and Main Results: Mean prevalence of CAO was 11.2% in men and 8.6% in women. Mean PAR for smoking was 5.1% in men and 2.2% in women. The next most influential risk factors were poor education levels, working in a dusty job for ≥10 years, low body mass index (BMI), and a history of tuberculosis. The risk of CAO attributable to the different risk factors varied across sites.Conclusions: While smoking remains the most important risk factor for CAO, in some areas poor education, low BMI and passive smoking are of greater importance. Dusty occupations and tuberculosis are important risk factors at some sites

Exposure to PM2.5 related to road traffic : comparison between crossroads and outside of crossroads at Cotonou, Benin

Several studies have analysed the pollution issues owing to road traffic in Cotonou, Benin. Concentration levels of particles are higher in high traffic areas. This study was conducted along the 5 km high traffic road in the city of Cotonou. The journal article reviews the study methodology and findings. Results of a Generalized Linear Mixed Model shows there are highly significant differences between concentrations of PM2.5 at crossroads, and as well, significant differences between concentrations of PM2.5 in the dry season compared to the rainy season. Exposure of human populations to air pollution is more intense on these crossroads

Respiratory health risks associated with workplaces located in roundabouts and outside of roundabouts along a road with high-traffic at Cotonou, Benin

OBJECTIVE: Air pollution is now a public health concern and there is an urgent need to find local feasible solution to overcome the related health issues. Regarding outdoor air pollution effect on vendors health and workplaces exposed to high traffic, it is important to accurately define the most exposed between those working along main roads or in roundabouts with high traffic. The purpose of this study was to assess the vendors respiratory health risks associated with these different geographical positions in Cotonou. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted and included all the shops along a main road and a roundabout with high traffic in Cotonou. One person was recruited per shop and was allocated a unique GPS data associated with the geographical position of its shop. Validated questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was administered to 194 individuals who were included. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) of age of workers was 36.26 (±11.65) years and the sex ratio (M/F) was 1.8. Most of respondents (69.07%) worked in non-ventilated rooms. 72.68% of the workers reported at least one respiratory symptom. This proportion was significantly different (p<0.001) between the subpopulations at roundabout (96.15%) and apart from the roundabout (64.08%). The most reported symptoms by the workers were respectively cough (47.94%), itchy nose (42.27%) and breathlessness (28.35%). The risk of cough and itchy nose symptoms were respectively 5.15 (OR=5.15; 95% CI= [2.21;12.04]; p< .001) and 3.44 (OR=3.44; 95% CI= [1.55;7.63]; p=0.002) higher in individuals working at the roundabout compared to those working along the main road. CONCLUSION: Working in roundabout is associated with more respiratory disorders than practicing in shop along a main road. In a resources limited settings, it may be important to focus air pollution mitigation effort on this subpopulation of workers

Risk Factors of Pesticide Poisoning and Pesticide Users’ Cholinesterase Levels in Cotton Production Areas: Glazoué and Savè Townships, in Central Republic of Benin

Objective: To assess the degree of poisoning in farmers using the erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) test before and after the exposure to pesticides in townships in central Benin (Glazoué and Savè) and to identify the associated risk factors. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, we recruited 264 farm pesticide sprayers, who have been working for at least 5 years. They completed a questionnaire and underwent the AChE test using the Test-mate Model 400 device (EQM Research Inc.) with a photometric sensor, based on the works of Ellman. Results: Organophosphate/pyrethroids were the most common pesticides used by at least 72.96% of the farmworkers. We observed an inhibition of AChE between pre-exposure and post-exposure ( P = .002) for 60.61% of the farmworkers. Among them, 11.88% displayed more than 20% AChE inhibition. Conclusions: Pesticide poisoning is a reality, and AChE monitoring is urgently needed for farmworker surveillance

Exposure to PM 2.5 Related to Road Traffic: Comparison between Crossroads and Outside of Crossroads at Cotonou, Benin

International audienceBackground: Several studies have analysed the pollution issues owing to road traffic in Cotonou, Benin. Concentration levels of particles are higher on high traffic than a low traffic. The exposure of human populations to air pollution is more intense on the roads. In Benin, the density of traffic on the crossroads is indeed more important. Are traffic locations such as crossroads, areas where the level of exposure PM 2.5 is increased?Methods: This study was conducted along the 5 km high-traffic road in the city of Cotonou. It is a high traffic lane with two crossroads. Sampling and measurements were carried out in dry season (January and February) and rainy season (June and July). For each season the measurements were made over two months from 7 am to 9 pm. PM 2.5 measurements were made at different locations at crossroads and also along the track. To compare concentrations of PM 2.5 at crossroads and outside of roundabout, we used the Generalized Linear Mixed Model.Results: In the rainy season the PM 2.5 hourly concentrations ranged between 400 μg/m 3 and 500 μg/m 3 while in the dry season 100 μg/m 3 and 300 μg/m 3. In the rainy season, the average of PM 2.5 concentration was 463.25 ± 66.21 μg/m 3 at crossroads and 264.75 ± 50.97 μg/m 3 outside of crossroads. In the dry season, the average of PM 2.5 concentration was 232.75 ± 97.29 μg/m 3 at crossroads and 123.31 ± 63.79 μg/m 3 outside of crossroads. Both in dry and rainy seasons , PM 2.5 concentration level peaks are observed from 7 am to 9 am and from 7 pm to 9 pm. The Generalized Linear Mixed Model showed that there is high significant difference between concentrations of PM 2.5 at crossroads compared to outside of crossroads. Occupation of the roadside (in particular crossroads) for various economic activities is common practice in Cotonou thus health risk for people working around crossroads increases.Conclusion: Locations such as crossroads are areas where the level of exposure PM2.5 is highest on road traffics

Airflow Obstruction and Use of Solid Fuels for Cooking or Heating: BOLD Results

Rationale: Evidence supporting the association of COPD or airflow obstruction with use of solid fuels is conflicting and inconsistent. Objective: To assess the association of airflow obstruction with self-reported use of solid fuels for cooking or heating. Methods: We analysed 18,554 adults from the BOLD study, who had provided acceptable post-bronchodilator spirometry measurements and information on use of solid fuels. The association of airflow obstruction with use of solid fuels for cooking or heating was assessed by sex, within each site, using regression analysis. Estimates were stratified by national income and meta-analysed. We carried out similar analyses for spirometric restriction, chronic cough and chronic phlegm. Measurements and main results: We found no association between airflow obstruction and use of solid fuels for cooking or heating (ORmen=1.20, 95%CI 0.94-1.53; ORwomen=0.88, 95%CI 0.67-1.15). This was true for low/middle and high income sites. Among never smokers there was also no evidence of an association of airflow obstruction with use of solid fuels (ORmen=1.00, 95%CI 0.57-1.76; ORwomen=1.00, 95%CI 0.76-1.32). Overall, we found no association of spirometric restriction, chronic cough or chronic phlegm with the use of solid fuels. However, we found that chronic phlegm was more likely to be reported among female never smokers and those who had been exposed for ≥20 years. Conclusion: Airflow obstruction assessed from post-bronchodilator spirometry was not associated with use of solid fuels for cooking or heating