Seasonal concentrations and determinants of indoor particulate matter in a low-income community in Dhaka, Bangladesh

May 21, 2013 · 0 comments

Environ Res. 2013 Feb;121:11-6.

Seasonal concentrations and determinants of indoor particulate matter in a low-income community in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Gurley ES, Salje H, Homaira N, Ram PK, Haque R, Petri WA Jr, Bresee J, Moss WJ, Luby SP, Breysse P, Azziz-Baumgartner E.

Centre for Communicable Diseases, International Center for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh. egurley@icddrb.org

Abstract
Indoor exposure to particulate matter (PM) increases the risk of acute lower respiratory tract infections, which are the leading cause of death in young children in Bangladesh. Few studies, however, have measured children’s exposures to indoor PM over time. The World Health Organization recommends that daily indoor concentrations of PM less than 2.5μm in diameter (PM(2.5)) not exceed 25μg/m(3). This study aimed to describe the seasonal variation and determinants of concentrations of indoor PM(2.5) in a low-income community in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh.

PM(2.5) was measured in homes monthly during May 2009 to April 2010. We calculated the time-weighted average, 90th percentile PM(2.5) concentrations and the daily hours PM(2.5) exceeded 100μg/m(3). Linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between fuel use, ventilation, indoor smoking, and season to each metric describing indoor PM(2.5) concentrations. Time-weighted average PM(2.5) concentrations were 190μg/m(3) (95% CI 170-210). Sixteen percent of 258 households primarily used biomass fuels for cooking and PM(2.5) concentrations in these homes had average concentrations 75μg/m(3) (95% CI 56-124) greater than other homes.

PM(2.5) concentrations were also associated with burning both biomass and kerosene, indoor smoking, and ventilation, and were more than twice as high during winter than during other seasons. Young children in this community are exposed to indoor PM(2.5) concentrations 7 times greater than those recommended by World Health Organization guidelines. Interventions to reduce biomass burning could result in a daily reduction of 75μg/m(3) (40%) in time-weighted average PM(2.5) concentrations.

Solid Fuel Use for Household Cooking: Country and Regional Estimates for 1980-2010.

May 21, 2013 · 0 comments

Environ Health Perspect. 2013 May 3.

Solid Fuel Use for Household Cooking: Country and Regional Estimates for 1980-2010.

Bonjour S, Adair-Rohani H, Wolf J, Bruce NG, Mehta S, Prüss-Ustün A, Lahiff M, Rehfuess EA, Mishra V, Smith KR.

Department of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to household air pollution resulting from cooking with solid fuels in simple stoves is a major health risk. Modelling reliable estimates of solid fuel use is needed for monitoring trends and informing policy.

OBJECTIVES: We estimated annual trends in the population using solid fuels for the revision of the disease burden attributable to household air pollution for the Global Burden of Disease 2010 project, and for international reporting purposes.

METHODS: A multilevel model was developed based on national survey data on primary cooking fuel.

RESULTS: The proportion of households relying mainly on solid fuels for cooking has decreased from 62% (95% CI: 58, 66) to 41% (95% CI: 37, 44) between 1980 and 2010. Yet due to population growth, the actual number of people exposed has remained stable at around 2.8 billion during three decades. Solid fuel use is most prevalent in Africa and South East Asia where more than 60% of households cook with solid fuels. In other regions, primary solid fuel use ranges from almost 50% in the Western Pacific, to one third in Eastern Mediterranean and less than 20% in the Americas and Europe.

CONCLUSION: Multilevel modelling is a suitable technique to derive reliable solid fuel use estimates. Worldwide, the proportion of households cooking mainly with solid fuels is decreasing. The absolute number of people using solid fuels, however, is remaining steady globally and increasing in some regions. Surveys require enhancement to better capture the health implications of new technologies and multiple fuel use.

Saving & Empowering Lives through Clean Cooking Innovation

May 15, 2013 · 0 comments

Saving & Empowering Lives through Clean Cooking Innovation | Source: Radha Muthiah, USAID Impact blog, May 11th 2013 |

A major study published in December cited high blood pressure, alcohol, and tobacco as the top three health risks in the world. Could you guess the fourth? You probably did it last night.

Example of a pine needle powered cook stove. Photo credit: USAID

The seemingly simple act of cooking a meal is responsible for 4 million deaths each year.

That’s because nearly 3 billion people burn solid fuels such as wood, charcoal, coal, and other fuels to cook every day. When burned in open fires and basic stoves, solid fuels emit a harmful smoke that causes a range of cancers, heart and lung diseases, developmental and neurological impacts, cataracts, and more.

Inefficient and dangerous cooking practices are also a major cause of burns, and the acts of collecting and burning fuelwood lead to deforestation and the release of climate-changing gases, respectively.

Women and children have the primary responsibility for cooking and fuel collection in developing countries, and are therefore most at risk from the side effects: smoke inhalation, crippling burns, time lost for schooling or work, human or animal attacks during fuel collection, and myriad others.

[click to continue…]

Bookmark and Share

Intrauterine exposure to fine particulate matter as a risk factor

May 15, 2013 · 0 comments

Intrauterine exposure to fine particulate matter as a risk factor for increased susceptibility to acute broncho-pulmonary infections in early childhood. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2013.

Over the last decades many epidemiologic studies considered the morbidity patterns for respiratory diseases and lung function of children in the context of ambient air pollution usually measured in the postnatal period. The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the recurrent broncho-pulmonary infections in early childhood. In conclusion, the study suggests that prenatal exposure to PM2.5 increases susceptibility to respiratory infections and may program respiratory morbidity in early childhood. The study also provides evidence that the target value of 20g/m3 for the 24-h mean level of PM2.5 protects unborn babies better than earlier established EAP guidelines.

The state of scientific evidence on air pollution and human health in Nepal.

May 15, 2013 · 0 comments

Environ Res. 2013 May 7. pii: S0013-9351(13)00067-4. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2013.03.007.

The state of scientific evidence on air pollution and human health in Nepal.

Gurung A, Bell ML. School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
Abstract
Air pollution has been linked to acute and chronic health effects. However, the majority of evidence is based in North America and Europe, with a growing number of studies in Asia and Latin America. Nepal is one of the many South Asian countries where little such research has been conducted. We summarized the state of scientific evidence and identify research gaps based on the existing literature on air pollution and human health in Nepal. We performed a systematic literature search to identify relevant studies. Studies were categorized as those that estimate: (1) health impacts of indoor air pollution, (2) health impacts of outdoor air pollution, (3) health burdens from outdoor air pollution in Nepal based on existing concentration-response relationships from elsewhere, or (4) exposure and air quality but do not link to health.

We identified 89 studies, of which 23 linked air pollution to health impacts. The remainder focused on exposure and air quality, demonstrating high pollution levels. The few health studies focused mainly on indoor air (n=15), especially in rural areas and during cooking. Direct exposure measurements were for short time periods; most studies used indirect exposure methods (e.g., questionnaire). Most health studies had small sample sizes with almost all focusing on respiratory health. Although few studies have examined air pollution and health in Nepal, the existing studies indicate high pollution levels and suggest large health impacts. Nepal’s dearth of scientific research on air pollution and health is not unique and likely is similar to that of many other developing regions. Future research with larger studies and more health outcomes is needed. Key challenges include data availability.

Implications of Charcoal Briquette Produced by Local Communities on Livelihoods and Environment in Nairobi Kenya

May 15, 2013 · 2 comments

Implications of Charcoal Briquette Produced by Local Communities on Livelihoods and Environment in Nairobi Kenya

Mary Njenga, et al.

Abstract

The residents of Nairobi, Kenya, use 700 tonnes of charcoal per day, producing about 88 tonnes of charcoal dust that is found in most of the charcoal retailing stalls that is disposed of in water drainage systems or in black garbage heaps. The high costs of cooking fuel results in poor households using unhealthy materials such as plastic waste. Further, poor households are opting to cook foods that take a short time to prepare irrespective of their nutritional value.

This article presents experiences with community self-help groups producing charcoal fuel briquettes from charcoal dust in poorer nieghbourhoods of Nairobi for home use and sale. Households that produced charcoal fuel briquettes for own use and those that bought them saved 70% and 30% of money spent on cooking energy respectively. The charcoal fuel briquettes have been found to be environmentally beneficial since they produce less smoke and increase total cooking energy by more than 15%, thereby saving an equivalent volume of trees that would be cut down for charcoal.

Charcoal briquette production is a viable opportunity for good quality and affordable cooking fuel. Bioenergy and waste management initiatives should promote recovery of organic by-products for charcoal briquette production.

Behaviour change for better health: nutrition, hygiene and sustainability

May 15, 2013

Social marketing in India: Lessons learned from efforts to foster demand for cleaner cookstoves

May 2, 2013

Social marketing in India: Lessons learned from efforts to foster demand for cleaner cookstoves, 2013.

Shell Foundation

Since 2002, SF has been working to develop a market for more efficient, ‘improved cookstoves’ (ICS) that significantly reduce fuel use, emissions and cooking time for people who rely on biomass fuels. In 2007, we formed a long-term partnership with Envirofit International, a social enterprise based in the US, and together we
began to develop a business-based model to design, produce and sell a range of clean cookstoves that are affordable, durable and desirable.

Nigeria: Alliance to Deliver 10 Million Clean Cook Stoves to Nigerians By 2020

May 2, 2013 · 0 comments

Nigeria: Alliance to Deliver 10 Million Clean Cook Stoves to Nigerians By 2020 | Source: Daily Trust, May 2, 2013 |

The Nigerian Alliance for Clean CookStoves has promised to deliver 10 million stoves to Nigerian homes by 2020 as part of efforts to halt the rising mortality associated with the use of fire wood.

Mr Ewah Eleri, Coordinator, Nigerian Alliance for Clean CookStoves said that the need for the clean stove had become urgent as Nigeria account for 100,000 deaths annually out of the 2million death recorded globally.

“In Nigeria, available statistics shows that over 20 million people use fire wood and this account for 11 per cent of families food expenditure and result in the loss of 3 per cent of the nation’s forest reserve,” he said at a stakeholders meeting on the validation of the clean stove project.

[click to continue…]

Bookmark and Share

Indoor Air Pollution in Developing Countries: Research and Implementation Needs

May 2, 2013 · 0 comments

Jnl APHA, Feb 2013

Indoor Air Pollution in Developing Countries: Research and Implementation Needs for Improvements in Global Public Health

Elliott T. Gall, MSE, Ellison M. Carter, MSE, C. Matt Earnest, MSE, and Brent Stephens, PhD

Exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from the burning of solid fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting accounts for a significant portion of the global burden of death and disease, and disproportionately affects women and children in developing regions. Clean cookstove campaigns recently received more attention and investment, but their successes might hinge on greater integration of the public health community with a variety of other disciplines.

To help guide public health research in alleviating this important global environmental health burden, we synthesized previous research on IAP in developing countries, summarized successes and challenges of previous cookstove implementation programs, and provided key research and implementation needs from structured discussions at a recent symposium.

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →