Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Millions of rural U.S. households are heated with wood stoves. Wood stove use can lead to high indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter [airborne particles ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] and is associated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children.Objectives
We assessed the impact of low-cost educational and air filtration interventions on childhood LRTI and indoor PM2.5 in rural U.S. homes with wood stoves.Methods
The Kids Air Quality Interventions for Reducing Respiratory Infections (KidsAIR) study was a parallel three-arm (education, portable air filtration unit, control), post-only randomized trial in households from Alaska, Montana, and Navajo Nation (Arizona and New Mexico) with a wood stove and one or more children <5 years of age. We tracked LRTI cases for two consecutive winter seasons and measured indoor PM2.5 over a 6-d period during the first winter. We assessed results using two analytical frameworks: a) intervention efficacy on LRTI and PM2.5 (intent-to-treat), and b) association between PM2.5 and LRTI (exposure-response).Results
There were 61 LRTI cases from 14,636 child-weeks of follow-up among 461 children. In the intent-to-treat analysis, children in the education arm [odds ratio (OR)=0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35, 2.72] and the filtration arm (OR=1.23; 95% CI: 0.46, 3.32) had similar odds of LRTI vs. control. Geometric mean PM2.5 concentrations were similar to control in the education arm (11.77% higher; 95% CI: -16.57, 49.72) and air filtration arm (6.96% lower; 95% CI: -30.50, 24.55). In the exposure-response analysis, odds of LRTI were 1.45 times higher (95% CI: 1.02, 2.05) per interquartile range (25 μg/m3) increase in mean indoor PM2.5.Discussion
We did not observe meaningful differences in LRTI or indoor PM2.5 in the air filtration or education arms compared with the control arm. Results from the exposure-response analysis provide further evidence that biomass air pollution adversely impacts childhood LRTI. Our results highlight the need for novel, effective intervention strategies in households heated with wood stoves. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9932.
SUBMITTER: Walker ES
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8992966 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Walker Ethan S ES Semmens Erin O EO Belcourt Annie A Boyer Bert B BB Erdei Esther E Graham Jon J Hopkins Scarlett E SE Lewis Johnnye L JL Smith Paul G PG Ware Desirae D Weiler Emily E Ward Tony J TJ Noonan Curtis W CW
Environmental health perspectives 20220408 4
<h4>Background</h4>Millions of rural U.S. households are heated with wood stoves. Wood stove use can lead to high indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter [airborne particles ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] and is associated with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in children.<h4>Objectives</h4>We assessed the impact of low-cost educational and air filtration interventions on childhood LRTI and indoor PM2.5 in rural U.S. homes with wood stoves.<h4>Methods</h4>The Kids Air Q ...[more]