Residential environmental risks for reproductive age women in developing countries.
Published research suggests there is an association between maternal inhalation of common ambient air pollutants and adverse birth outcomes, including an increased risk for preterm delivery, intrauterine growth retardation, small head circumference, low birth weight, and increased rate of malformations. The air pollutants produced by indoor combustion of biomass fuels, used by 50% of households worldwide, have been linked to acute lower respiratory infections, the single most important cause of mortality in children under the age of 5. This report describes a hypothesis-generating study in West Wollega, Ethiopia, conducted to assess airborne particulate matter concentrations in homes that combust biomass fuels (biomass homes). Respirable suspended particulate matter was measured in biomass homes and nonbiomass homes using NIOSH method 0600. Measured airborne particulate concentrations in biomass homes were up to 130 times higher than air quality standards. These findings, in part, confirm that exposure to indoor air pollutants are a major source of concern for mother/child health. Midwives are encouraged to raise awareness, contribute to research efforts, and assist in interventions.
Dyjack
David
D
School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA. ddyjack@sph.llu.edu
Soret
Samuel
S
Chen
Lie
L
Hwang
Rhonda
R
Nazari
Nahid
N
Gaede
Donn
D
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D003296:Cooking / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health
D000393:Air Pollutants