title: Carbon monoxide concentrations in outdoor wood-fired kitchens in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso--implications for women's and children's health.
abstract: A majority of households in developing countries rely on biomass fuel for cooking, typically burned in open fires or simple stoves. The incomplete combustion of these fuels causes adverse health effects such as respiratory diseases, especially among women and children. However, quantitative data on pollution levels and on associated diseases are limited. We examined cooking habits and self-reported health in 31 households with outdoor open wood fires in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, using structured interviews. In eight households, carbon monoxide (CO) was measured using passive sampling. In addition, meteorology and ambient CO concentrations were assessed. The average CO concentration during cooking was 4.3 ppm, with a maximum of 65.3 ppm and minimum of 0.3 ppm (1-min values). A clear daily pattern was observed, with relatively low concentrations during the day and high during the evening, occasionally exceeding the World Health Organization 1- and 8-h guidelines when the air stabilised. On average, CO concentrations were 43 % higher in kitchens located in closed yards than in those located in open yards, showing that fireplace location affected the levels. Eye irritation and coughing among women and children were reported by 30 % of the households. Based on previously reported relations between CO concentrations and fine particles (<2.5 μm), the exposure to biomass smoke appears to be high enough to pose a considerable health risk among women and children in households with outdoor open wood fires. The results suggest that burning should be limited between sunset and dawn and in areas with limited ventilation to reduce pollutions levels.
authors.affiliation: Urban Climate Group, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 5A, 413 20, Göteborg, Sweden, sofia.thorsson@gvc.gu.se.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thorsson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holmer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andjelic
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindén
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cimerman
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barregard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D018533:Biomass; D002050:Burkina Faso; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003296:Cooking; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014691:Ventilation; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002248:Carbon Monoxide