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HERO ID
2092805
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Indoor air pollution and the lung in low- and medium-income countries
Author(s)
Kurmi, OmP; Lam, K; Ayres, J
Year
2012
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
European Respiratory Journal
ISSN:
0903-1936
EISSN:
1399-3003
Volume
40
Issue
1
Page Numbers
239-254
Language
English
PMID
22362845
DOI
10.1183/09031936.00190211
Web of Science Id
WOS:000307287500032
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Biomass fuel; indoor air pollution; lung diseases; solid fuel
Tags
NAAQS
•
ISA-PM (2019)
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