Respir Care. 2012 Jul 10.
Evaluation of Clinical and Functional Parameters in Female Patients With Biomass Smoke Exposure.
Köksal H, Saygι A, Sarıman N, Alιcι E, Yurtlu S, Yιlmaz H, Düzgün Y.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Indoor air pollution and exposure to biomass smoke is a risk factor for pulmonary diseases among women in developing countries. We aimed to assess clinical and functional findings and exposure duration and to evaluate their relationships in patients who used biomass products as fuel and who presented to the clinic due to respiratory symptoms.
METHODS: Fifty-five patients, who had been referred to the hospital between January 2008-December 2010 and who met inclusion criteria were accepted to the study. Data on the place they live, biomass exposure duration, lung function parameters and, arterial blood gases were recorded.
RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in FEV₁%, FEV₁(L) and, FEV₁/FVC were existed between the subgroups of duration of biomass exposure (p=0.001). FEV₁% and FEV₁/FVC were highest in the <30 hour-years exposure group. In the presence of animal dung use, the risk of being FEV₁/FVC<70% was 3.5(0.88-10.29) OR,95%CI. Animal dung and wood use were observed in women at severe and very severe FEV₁ stages. CONCLUSIONS: Biomass exposure can have effects on lung function test parameters. Animal dung use is primarily related to risk of deterioration of FEV₁/FVC when compared to other biomass fuels. Protective health measures should be taken by assessing the risks in areas where biomass exposure is intense. We could improve poor designs of the stoves and ventilation and switch to better clean energy sources such as natural gas and solar energy.
