Dataset Information

Biomass stoves and lens opacity and cataract in Nepalese women.

ABSTRACT: Cataract is the most prevalent cause of blindness in Nepal. Several epidemiologic studies have associated cataracts with use of biomass cookstoves. These studies, however, have had limitations, including potential control selection bias and limited adjustment for possible confounding. This study, in Pokhara City, in an area of Nepal where biomass cookstoves are widely used without direct venting of the smoke to the outdoors, focuses on preclinical measures of opacity while avoiding selection bias and taking into account comprehensive data on potential confounding factors.Using a cross-sectional study design, severity of lenticular damage, judged on the LOCS (Lens Opacities Classification System) III scales, was investigated in women (n = 143), aged 20 to 65 years, without previously diagnosed cataract. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationships with stove type and length of use. Clinically significant cataract, used in the logistic regression models, was defined as a LOCS III score ?2.Using gas cookstoves as the reference group, logistic regression analysis for nuclear cataract showed evidence of relationships with stove type: for biomass stoves, the odds ratio was 2.58 (95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 5.46); and for kerosene stoves, the odds ratio was 5.18 (95% confidence interval, 0.88 to 30.38). Similar results were found for nuclear color (LOCS III score ?2), but no association was found with cortical cataracts. Supporting a relationship between biomass stoves and nuclear cataract was a trend with years of exposure to biomass cookstoves (p = 0.01). Linear regression analyses did not show clear evidence of an association between lenticular damage and stove types. Biomass fuel used for heating was not associated with any form of opacity.This study provides support for associations of biomass and kerosene cookstoves with nuclear opacity and change in nuclear color. The novel associations with kerosene cookstove use deserve further investigation.

SUBMITTER: Pokhrel AK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4349399 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Biomass stoves and lens opacity and cataract in Nepalese women.

Pokhrel Amod K AK Bates Michael N MN Shrestha Sachet P SP Bailey Ian L IL Dimartino Robert B RB Smith Kirk R KR

Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry 20130301 3

<h4>Purpose</h4>Cataract is the most prevalent cause of blindness in Nepal. Several epidemiologic studies have associated cataracts with use of biomass cookstoves. These studies, however, have had limitations, including potential control selection bias and limited adjustment for possible confounding. This study, in Pokhara City, in an area of Nepal where biomass cookstoves are widely used without direct venting of the smoke to the outdoors, focuses on preclinical measures of opacity while avoidi ...[more]

PMID: 23400024

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Project description:BackgroundTelomere shortening is associated with early mortality and chronic disease. Recent studies indicate that environmental exposures, including urban and traffic-related air pollution, may shorten telomeres. Associations between exposure to household air pollution from solid fuel stoves and telomere length have not been evaluated.MethodsAmong 137 rural Chinese women using biomass stoves ([Formula: see text] of age), we measured 48-h personal exposures to fine particulate matter [PM [Formula: see text] in aerodynamic diameter ([Formula: see text])] and black carbon and collected oral DNA on up to three occasions over a period of 2.5 y. Relative telomere length (RTL) was quantified using a modified real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol. Mixed effects regression models were used to investigate the exposure–response associations between household air pollution and RTL, adjusting for key sociodemographic, behavioral, and environmental covariates.ResultsWomen's daily exposures to air pollution ranged from [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text] for black carbon ([Formula: see text]). Natural cubic spline models indicated a mostly linear association between increased exposure to air pollution and shorter RTL, except at very high concentrations where there were few observations. We thus modeled the linear associations with all observations, excluding the highest 3% and 5% of exposures. In covariate-adjusted models, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure to black carbon ([Formula: see text]) was associated with shorter RTL [all observations: [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]); excluding highest 5% exposures: [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text])]. Further adjustment for outdoor temperature brought the estimates closer to zero [all observations: [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], 0.06); excluding highest 5% exposures: [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text])]. Models with [Formula: see text] as the exposure metric followed a similar pattern.ConclusionTelomere shortening, which is a biomarker of biological aging and chronic disease, may be associated with exposure to air pollution in settings where household biomass stoves are commonly used. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4041.

Project description:BackgroundIndoor air pollution, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), is a major risk factor for pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. Biomass-burning cookstoves are major contributors to PM2.5 and CO concentrations. However, high concentrations of PM2.5 (>?1000??g/m3) have been observed in homes in Dhaka, Bangladesh that do not burn biomass. We described dispersion of PM2.5 and CO from biomass burning into nearby homes in a low-income urban area of Dhaka, Bangladesh.MethodsWe recruited 10 clusters of homes, each with one biomass-burning (index) home, and 3-4 neighboring homes that used cleaner fuels with no other major sources of PM2.5 or CO. We administered a questionnaire and recorded physical features of all homes. Over 24?h, we recorded PM2.5 and CO concentrations inside each home, near each stove, and outside one neighbor home per cluster. During 8 of these 24?h, we conducted observations for pollutant-generating activities such as cooking. For each monitor, we calculated geometric mean PM2.5 concentrations at 5-6?am (baseline), during biomass burning times, during non-cooking times, and over 24?h. We used linear regressions to describe associations between monitor location and PM2.5 and CO concentrations.ResultsWe recruited a total of 44 homes across the 10 clusters. Geometric mean PM2.5 and CO concentrations for all monitors were lowest at baseline and highest during biomass burning. During biomass burning, linear regression showed a decreasing trend of geometric mean PM2.5 and CO concentrations from the biomass stove (326.3??g/m3, 12.3?ppm), to index home (322.7??g/m3, 11.2?ppm), neighbor homes sharing a wall with the index home (278.4??g/m3, 3.6?ppm), outdoors (154.2??g/m3, 0.7?ppm), then neighbor homes that do not share a wall with the index home (83.1??g/m3,0.2?ppm) (p?=?0.03 for PM2.5, p?=?0.006 for CO).ConclusionBiomass burning in one home can be a source of indoor air pollution for several homes. The impact of biomass burning on PM2.5 or CO is greatest in homes that share a wall with the biomass-burning home. Eliminating biomass burning in one home may improve air quality for several households in a community.

Dataset Information

Biomass stoves and lens opacity and cataract in Nepalese women.

Publications

Biomass stoves and lens opacity and cataract in Nepalese women.

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