International Journal of Physiology

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Effect of Domestic Cooking Fuel on the Health of Nonsmoking Women of Uttar Pradesh, India


Affiliations
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Air pollution is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In developing countries, air pollution tends to be highest indoors, where biomass fuels, such as wood, animal dung, crop residues, and rasses, are burned by many households for cooking and space heating (Smith KR 1996). Here, we analyse the effect of Domestic Cooking Fuel on the health of Non-Smoking women of Uttar Pradesh and compare the pulmonary functions in healthy non- smoking women who used either biomass or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) as their sole cooking fuel using data on 275 healthy non-smoking women included 159 cooked solely with biomass and 116 cooked with LPG. A standardised respiratory symptoms questionnaire was administered to all the subjects and spirometry was carried out. The effects of passive smoking, ventilation, overcrowding and cooking index were also taken into account.

Passive smoking showed no significant difference between the two groups. No statistically significant differences was found in lung functions (FVC , FEV1, FER) in the two groups except for the PEFR, which was significantly lower (P<0.01) in women using biomass. No correlation was observed between different variables and pulmonary functions. The step-wise multivariate linear regression analysis showed no correlation between cooking fuel and the pulmonary functions.

The absence of the expected adverse effects of biomass on pulmonary functions was possibly due to better ventilation in the kitchens of subjects in the biomass group compared to previous studies. The results strongly suggest that smoke exposure from the use of biomass fuels for cooking substantially increases the risk of respiratory and lungs problems.


Keywords

Non- Smoking Women, Health, Respiratory Symptoms, Biomass, Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Aggarwal AL, Raiyani CV, Patel PD. 1982. Assessment of exposure to benzo-a- pyrene in air for various pollution groups in Ahmedabad. Atmospheric Environ. 16: 867-70.

  • ATS Statement. 1979. Snowbird workshop on standardization of spirometry. Am Rev Respir Dis. 119: 831-38.

  • Ban A, Gallo P, Gouws J, Gros J, Guy K. Schneider E. 2004. Alternative cooking technology new stoves solving old problems. Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

  • Bates L. Smoke team from Kenya, Nepal, Sudan and UK. 2005. Smoke, health and household energy. Participatory methods for design, installation, monitoring and assessment of smoke alleviation technologies. Practical Action publishing.

  • Bauer MA, Utell MJ, Marrow PE. 1984. 0.30 PPM nitrogen dioxide inhalation potentiates exerciseinduced bronchospasm in asthmatics. Am Rev Respir Dis. 129(Suppl-A): 151.

  • Behera D. Jindal SK. 1991.Respiratory symptoms in Indian women using domestic cooking fuels. Chest. 100:385-88.

  • Cooper JA, Malek D. 1982. Residential solid fuels: environmental impacts and solutions. Oregon Graduate Center, Beaverton, Oregon. 267.

  • George WC, Melvyn ST, Knud JH. 1979. Standardized respiratory questionnaires : Comparison of the old with the new. Am Rev Respir Dis 119: 45-53.

  • Graham JC, Blackburn CR. 1968. Pollution in native huts in the Highlands of New Guinea. Arch Environ Health. 17: 785-94.

  • Jeffrey RJ, Higgins ITT, Higgins MW, Keller JB. 1983. Effects of cooking fuels on lung function in non-smoking women. Arch Environ Health. 38 : 219-22.

  • Laxmi V, Parikh J, Karmakar S, Dabrase P. 2003. Household energy, women’s hardship and health impacts in rural Rajasthan, India: need for sustainable energy solutions Energy for Sustainable Development. Vol (7)No. 1

  • Malik SK. 1977. Chronic bronchitis in North India. (Communication to Editor). Chest. 72: 800.

  • Malik SK. 1984. Domestic cooking, chronic bronchitis and impairment of lung functions in rural females. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 26: 200-01.

  • National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). 2007-08. Energy used by Indian Households. New Delhi. Report No. 530

  • NFHS. 1995. National Family Health Survey: India. 1992-93, International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai.

  • Pandey MR. 1984. Domestic smoke pollution and chronic bronchitis in a rural community of the hill region of Nepal. Thorax. 39: 337-39.

  • Qureshi KA. 1994. Domestic smoke pollution and prevalence of chronic bronchitis/asthma in a rural area of Kashmir. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 36 : 61-72.

  • Saldiva PHN, Miraglia SGEK. 2004. Health effects of cook stove emissions. Energy for Sustainable Development, the Journal of International Energy Initiative. Larson and Macedo, edts. Vol (8), No. 3.

  • Smith KR, Aggarwal AL, Dave RM. 1983. Air pollution and rural biomass fuels on developing countries: A pilot village study in India and implications for research and policy. Atmospheric Environ. 17: 2343-62.

  • Smith KR, Samet JM, Romieu I, Bruce N. 2000. Indoor air pollution in developing countries and acute lower respiratory infections in children. Thorax. 55: 518–32.

  • Smith KR. 1993. Fuel combustion, air pollution exposure, and health: the situation in developing countries.18:529-566.

  • Smith KR. 1996. Indoor air pollution in India. Natl Med J India1996; 9:103-104.

  • Smith KR. 2000. The national burden of disease in India from indoor air pollution. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 97: 13286–93.

  • Straif K, Baan R, Grosse Y, Secretan B, El Ghissassi F, Cogliano V. 2006. Carcinogenicity of household solid-fuel use and high-temperature frying. Lancet Oncol. 7: 977–8.

  • TATA Energy Research Institute. 1989. TERI Energy Data Directory and Year Book (TEDDY). TATA Energy Research Institute, New Delhi.

  • Udawadia FE, Sunavala JD, Shetge VM. 1989. Lung function studies in healthy Indian subjects. J Assoc Physicians India. 36: 491-96.

  • UNDP. 2009. The energy access situation in developing countries: a review focused on least developed countries and Sub-Saharan Africa. UNDP. New York, NY 10017

  • Unicef 2011. COOKING FUELS IN INDIA:TRENDS AND PATTERNS. TERI. Policy Brief 3. Delhi

  • Warwick H, Doig A. 2004. Smoke–the Killer in the Kitchen. Indoor Air Pollution in Developing Countries. ITDG Publishing, London, UK.

  • WHO. 1992. Epidemiological, Social, and Technical Aspects of Indoor Air Pollution from Biomass Fuel: Report of a WHO Consultation June1991. World Health Organization: Geneva.

  • Woolcock AJ, Blackburn CRB, Freeman MH. 1970. Studies of chronic lung disease in New Guinea populations. Am Rev Respir Dis. 102: 575-90.


Abstract Views: 461

PDF Views: 2




  • Effect of Domestic Cooking Fuel on the Health of Nonsmoking Women of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract Views: 461  |  PDF Views: 2

Authors

Ajeet Jaiswal
Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry

Abstract


Air pollution is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. In developing countries, air pollution tends to be highest indoors, where biomass fuels, such as wood, animal dung, crop residues, and rasses, are burned by many households for cooking and space heating (Smith KR 1996). Here, we analyse the effect of Domestic Cooking Fuel on the health of Non-Smoking women of Uttar Pradesh and compare the pulmonary functions in healthy non- smoking women who used either biomass or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) as their sole cooking fuel using data on 275 healthy non-smoking women included 159 cooked solely with biomass and 116 cooked with LPG. A standardised respiratory symptoms questionnaire was administered to all the subjects and spirometry was carried out. The effects of passive smoking, ventilation, overcrowding and cooking index were also taken into account.

Passive smoking showed no significant difference between the two groups. No statistically significant differences was found in lung functions (FVC , FEV1, FER) in the two groups except for the PEFR, which was significantly lower (P<0.01) in women using biomass. No correlation was observed between different variables and pulmonary functions. The step-wise multivariate linear regression analysis showed no correlation between cooking fuel and the pulmonary functions.

The absence of the expected adverse effects of biomass on pulmonary functions was possibly due to better ventilation in the kitchens of subjects in the biomass group compared to previous studies. The results strongly suggest that smoke exposure from the use of biomass fuels for cooking substantially increases the risk of respiratory and lungs problems.


Keywords


Non- Smoking Women, Health, Respiratory Symptoms, Biomass, Liquefied Petroleum Gas

References