Improving indoor air quality for poor families : a controlled experiment in Bangladesh

The World Health Organization's 2004 Global and Regional Burden of Disease Report estimates that acute respiratory infections from indoor air pollution (pollution from burning wood, animal dung, and other bio-fuels) kill a million children annually in developing countries, inflicting a particularly heavy toll on poor families in South Asia and Africa. This paper reports on an experiment that studied the use of construction materials, space configurations, cooking locations, and household ventilation practices (use of doors and windows) as potentially-important determinants of indoor air pollution. Results from controlled experiments in Bangladesh are analyzed to test whether changes in these determinants can have significant effects on indoor air pollution. Analysis of the data shows, for example, that pollution from the cooking area diffuses into living spaces rapidly and completely. Furthermore, it is important to factor in the interaction between outdoor and indoor air pollution. Among fuels, seasonal conditions seem to affect the relative severity of pollution from wood, dung, and other biomass fuels. However, there is no ambiguity about their collective impact. All are far dirtier than clean fuels. The analysis concludes that if cooking with clean fuels is not possible, then building the kitchen with porous construction material and providing proper ventilation in cooking areas will yield a better indoor health environment.Renewable Energy,Energy Production and Transportation,Air Quality&Clean Air,Pollution Management&Control,Sanitation and Sewerage

Household Characteristics and Potential Indoor Air Pollution Issues in Rural Indonesian Communities Using Fuelwood Energy

Two rural communities using fuel wood energy in mountainous and coastal areas of Java island in Indonesia have been surveyed to know their household characteristics and the related potential indoor air pollution issues. By random sampling, we characterized fuel wood users only. The fuel wood use was mainly due to economic reason since some of the users were categorized as low-income families. Communities in the mountainous area were exposed to higher risk of indoor air pollution than those in coastal area due to their house characteristics and behavior during cooking. Both communities, however, were aware of indoor air pollution issues and indicated the sources. They also prioritized the factors to be controlled, which they perceived as the main cause of indoor air pollution problem

The Proposed Indoor Air Quality Acts of 1993: The Comprehensive Solution to a Far-Reaching Problem

The author discusses a variety of issues which touch upon the problem of indoor air pollution, documents a regulatory gap in the area of indoor air pollution, and suggests that the passage of comprehensive legislation such as the Indoor Air Quality Act is a viable solution

Tobacco smoke, indoor air pollution and tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Tobacco smoking, passive smoking, and indoor air pollution from biomass fuels have been implicated as risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) infection, disease, and death. Tobacco smoking and indoor air pollution are persistent or growing exposures in regions where TB poses a major health risk. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the association between these exposures and the risk of infection, disease, and death from TB. Methods and Findings: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies reporting effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals on how tobacco smoking, passive smoke exposure, and indoor air pollution are associated with TB. We identified 33 papers on tobacco smoking and TB, five papers on passive smoking and TB, and five on indoor air pollution and TB. We found substantial evidence that tobacco smoking is positively associated with TB, regardless of the specific TB outcomes. Compared with people who do not smoke, smokers have an increased risk of having a positive tuberculin skin test, of having active TB, and of dying from TB. Although we also found evidence that passive smoking and indoor air pollution increased the risk of TB disease, these associations are less strongly supported by the available evidence. Conclusions: There is consistent evidence that tobacco smoking is associated with an increased risk of TB. The finding that passive smoking and biomass fuel combustion also increase TB risk should be substantiated with larger studies in future. TB control programs might benefit from a focus on interventions aimed at reducing tobacco and indoor air pollution exposures, especially among those at high risk for exposure to TB

Car indoor air pollution - analysis of potential sources

The population of industrialized countries such as the United States or of countries from the European Union spends approximately more than one hour each day in vehicles. In this respect, numerous studies have so far addressed outdoor air pollution that arises from traffic. By contrast, only little is known about indoor air quality in vehicles and influences by non-vehicle sources. Therefore the present article aims to summarize recent studies that address i.e. particulate matter exposure. It can be stated that although there is a large amount of data present for outdoor air pollution, research in the area of indoor air quality in vehicles is still limited. Especially, knowledge on non-vehicular sources is missing. In this respect, an understanding of the effects and interactions of i.e. tobacco smoke under realistic automobile conditions should be achieved in future

Health Risk Analysis of Heating Fuel Choice: Case Study in Kentucky

Replaced with revised version of paper 02/03/09.Combustion-generated pollutants, indoor air pollution, heating fuel choice, health risk, Environmental Economics and Policy, Health Economics and Policy,

The Health Impacts of Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution from Solid Fuels in Developing Countries: Knowledge, Gaps, and Data Needs

Globally, almost three billion people rely on biomass (wood, charcoal, crop residues, and dung) and coal as their primary source of domestic energy. Exposure to indoor air pollution from the combustion of solid fuels has been implicated, with varying degrees of evidence, as a causal agent of of disease and mortality in developing countries. We review the current knowledge on the relationship between indoor air pollution and disease, and on the assessment of interventions for reducing exposure and disease. Our review takes an environmental health perspective and considers the details of both exposure and health effects that are needed for successful intervention strategies. We also identify knowledge gaps and detailed research questions that are essential for successful design and dissemination of preventive measures and policies. In addition to specific research recommendations, we conclude that given the central role of housing, household energy, and day-to-day household activities in determining exposure to indoor smoke, research and development of effective interventions can benefit tremendously from integration of methods and analysis tools from a range of disciplines—from quantitative environmental science and engineering, to toxicology and epidemiology, to the social sciences.Household Energy, Developing Countries, Exposure Assessment, Exposure-Response Relationship, Indoor Air Pollution, Intervention, Public Health.

Nutritional status and access to clean fuels: Evidence from South Asia

Indoor air pollution due to solid fuels is among the ten most important risk factors in global burden of disease leading to respiratory diseases, anaemia, blindness and other disorders. This study examines the correlations between fuel choice and the nutritional status of children. We also explore if factors such as income, kitchen location and education play any role in conditioning fuel choice. Our results suggest that the choice and use of fuel has long lasting effects on the growth and health of children. It is also associated with a higher frequency of respiratory disorders. We find that agricultural households predominantly use unclean fuels.malnutrition, stunting, indoor air pollution, fuel choice, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy, International Development,

The effects of indoor air pollution from solid fuel use on cognitive function among middle-aged and older population in China

Objectives Growing evidence has linked outdoor air pollution exposure with higher risk of cognitive impairments. However, the role of indoor air pollution in cognitive decline is not well elaborated. By using nationally representative longitudinal data, this study aimed to explore the effects of indoor air pollution from solid fuel use on cognitive function among middle-aged and older individuals in China. Methods Data were obtained from 2011-2015 waves of CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study). Scores from the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status and figure drawing/word recall tests were used to measure cognitive function in 39,482 individuals. Exposure to indoor air pollution was measured as use of solid fuel for cooking. Solid fuel was defined as coal, biomass charcoal, wood, and straw; clean fuel was defined as liquefied gas, natural gas, and electricity. Linear mixed effect models were applied to examine the effect of indoor air pollution from solid fuel use on cognitive function. Results Participants had an average global cognitive function of 9.67 (SD=4.13). Solid fuel users made up 49.71% of participants, but this proportion was much greater among those living in rural areas (64.22%). Compared with clean fuel users, solid fuel users had worse cognitive function. On average, solid fuel users had a 0.81 (95%CI: -0.89,-0.73) lower global cognition score, 0.63 (95%CI: -0.69,-0.57) lower mental health score, and 0.16 (95%CI: -0.22,-0.14) lower episodic memory score. These effects were stronger among participants who are female, aged 65 years old and above, have education level of primary school and below, or have cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions These results provide evidence for the role of indoor air pollution in neurobehavioral disorders in China. Promotion of practices like expanded use of clean fuel and improved stoves in households may be crucial to significantly reduce indoor air pollution and protect mental health

Household Survey on Determinants of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) and Its Health Hazard Awareness among Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: In India, majority of the households still use biomass fuel. It is a major cause of death and disability in India.Aims and objectives: To assess determinants of Indoor air pollution and its health hazard awareness among women in semi-urban Mangalore.Methodology: 200 randomly selected households were recruited in two villages of Mangalore. A standard, structured questionnaire was administered after taking informed consent. Descriptive analysis of household area, cooking fuel usage, smoking status was done.Results: Of the participants, mean age was 45.22 with standard deviation of 11.36 years and mean time spent in kitchen in a day was 3.4 hours with standard deviation of 0.80. 64.2% of the houses lack cross ventilation and 72.5% of houses had tiled roofs. 17.9% were using chullah as cooking media and firewood, sawdust as cooking fuel. Regarding hazards of indoor air pollution, over half (50.9%) of women were unaware of it and among those who were aware, only 37.6% knew that indoor air pollution causes respiratory symptoms. Around 57.3% participants replied that their respiratory complaints increased on exposure to smoke. Of those who complain of respiratory symptoms, 49.0% are women. Almost three-fourth (72.5%) houses were tobacco smoke-free.Conclusion: participants’ residence, pattern and fuel use were the probable determinants of exposure to indoor air pollution. Knowledge regarding ill effects of indoor air pollution (IAP) varied among women. The present study is limited to small sample size. Further studies with a large sample size are required to conclude the above findings