Asthma and indoor environment in Nepal

Melsom, Toralf; Brinch, L; Hessen, Jens Olav; Schei, M; Kolstrup, Nils; Jacobsen, B K; Svanes, Cecilie; Pandey, Madhav

doi:10.1136/thorax.56.6.477

Cited by 81 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Few other studies have reported similar findings. A study from Nepal of people aged 11-17 years (Melsom et al, 2001) found an adjusted odds ratio of 2.3 (1.2-4.8) for asthma among those cooking on open fires compared to wood stoves with a flue, gas, or kerosene stoves. In a large study from Nepal (N73000) adjusted odds ratios of up to six were found for some of the asthma symptoms when comparing households using only gas for cooking to only open fires (Schei et al, 2004).…”

Section: Biomass-smoke Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood asthma and indoor woodsmoke from cooking in Guatemala

Schei

Hessen

Smith

et al. 2004

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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We estimated the prevalence and severity of asthma, and the association with cooking on open wood fires, as preparation for a large-scale randomized field trial on effects of indoor air pollution and child health. This is one of the first systematic studies of asthma and indoor wood-smoke pollution and to our knowledge the first asthma study in a purely indigeneous population in Latin America. The mothers of 1058 children aged 4-6 years were interviewed, using the standardized ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) procedures and questionnaire. The study population is a Mam-speaking (Maya), indigenous group living at relatively high altitude (2000 m) in Western Guatemalan Highlands. We found that asthma prevalence is low among indigenous children in Gautemala, compared to other populations in Latin America. Only 3.3% of the children reported wheezing symptoms in the last 12 months, and 72% wheezing symptoms ever. The majority of the current wheezers had at least one of the criteria for severe asthma. The prevalence of all the symptoms of asthma was higher in children from households that used open fires compared to improved stoves with chimneys. In a logistic regression model, use of open fire for cooking was a significant risk factor for a number of asthma symptoms, with odds ratios varying from 2.0 to 3.5. Among the different cooking technologies (1Fimproved stove with chimney, 2Fmixture of gas and open fire, 3Fopen fire) trends of higher prevalence with more pollution was found for some of the symptoms. Hence use of open fire for cooking, may be an important risk factor for asthma symptoms and severity.

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Section: Biomass-smoke Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood asthma and indoor woodsmoke from cooking in Guatemala

Schei

Hessen

Smith

et al. 2004

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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“…Although evidence from developing countries suggests that IAP may increase risk of developing asthma for children, a number of studies reported no effect for children (8,(21)(22)(23)(24)(25).…”

Section: Iap Has Been Considered a Risk Factor For Copd By The Globalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomass smoke exposure as a serious health hazard for women

Babalik

Bakırcı²,

Taylan³

et al. 2013

Tuberk Toraks

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“…A case-control study in Nepal assessed the home environment of schoolchildren in relation to asthma, using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire, and found that passive smoking and use of biomass fuels was separately associated with an increased risk of asthma in males only, but keeping animals in the home was associated with a lower risk of asthma (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.5) [97]. This finding is supported by a similar case-control study from Kenya [95], which found that dampness in the child's sleeping area, indoor air pollution and presence of rugs or carpets in the child's bedroom were strongly associated with asthma (OR 2.0-4.9), and by a study from Guatemala in relation to asthma symptoms in 4-6-yr-old children [89].…”

Section: Series: Air Pollution and Lung Disease Op Kurmi Et Almentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor air pollution and the lung in low- and medium-income countries

2012

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Over half the world's population, mostly from developing countries, use solid fuel for domestic purposes and are exposed to very high concentrations of harmful air pollutants with potential health effects such as respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, infant mortality and ocular problems. The evidence also suggests that, although the total percentage of people using solid fuel is decreasing, the absolute number is currently increasing. Exposure to smoke from solid fuel burning increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer in adults, and acute lower respiratory tract infection/pneumonia in children. Despite the heterogeneity among studies, the association between COPD and exposure to smoke produced by burning different types of solid fuel is consistent. However, there is strong evidence that while coal burning is a risk factor for lung cancer, exposure to other biomass fuel smoke is less so. There is some evidence that reduction of smoke exposure using improved cooking stoves reduces the risk of COPD and, possibly, acute lower respiratory infection in children, so approaches to reduce biomass smoke exposure are likely to result in reductions in the global burden of respiratory disease.

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Asthma and indoor environment in Nepal

Cited by 81 publications

References 32 publications

Childhood asthma and indoor woodsmoke from cooking in Guatemala

Childhood asthma and indoor woodsmoke from cooking in Guatemala

Biomass smoke exposure as a serious health hazard for women

Indoor air pollution and the lung in low- and medium-income countries

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