Inhalation exposures to particulate matter and carbon monoxide during Ethiopian coffee ceremonies in Addis Ababa: a pilot study.
The unique Ethiopian cultural tradition of the coffee ceremony increases inhalation exposures to combustion byproducts. This pilot study evaluated exposures to particulate matter and carbon monoxide in ten Addis Ababa homes during coffee ceremonies. For coffee preparers the geometric mean (57 μg/m³) and median (72 μg/m³) contributions to an increase in a 24-hour time-weighted average exposure were above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. At 40% of the study sites the contribution to the 24-hour average exposure was greater than twice the WHO guideline. Similar exposure increases existed for ceremony participants. Particulate matter concentrations may be related to the use of incense during the ceremony. In nearly all homes the WHO guideline for a 60-minute exposure to carbon monoxide was exceeded. Finding control measures to reduce these exposures will be challenging due to the deeply engrained nature of this cultural practice and the lack of availability of alternative fuels.
Keil
Chris
C
Department of the Environment and Sustainability, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA. ckeil@bgsu.edu
Kassa
Hailu
H
Brown
Alexander
A
Kumie
Abera
A
Tefera
Worku
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002606:Charcoal; D003069:Coffee; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D003069:Coffee; D052638:Particulate Matter; D012906:Smoke; D002606:Charcoal; D002248:Carbon Monoxide