title: Assessment of the biomass related indoor air pollution in Kwale district in Kenya using short term monitoring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Indoor air pollution remains an important health problem in some countries. Although research data on this issue is available, routine monitoring in affected areas is limited. The aims of this study were to quantify exposure to biomass-related indoor air pollution; assess the respiratory health of subjects; and explore the feasibility of routine monitoring in Kwale district, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  We sampled 125 rural houses using short-term monitoring for levels of CO, CO2 and TSP. Additional exposure information was obtained using a checklist. Respiratory health was also assessed using a questionnaire, and electronic spirometer in 172 inhabitants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall median levels of CO in the sampled houses on all study sites ranged from 5.9 (IQR 3-14.5) to 10 (5.5-21.2) mg/m3, levels of CO2 ranged from 774 (IQR 724-846) to 839 (IQR 749-961) mg/m3) and the levels of TSP ranged from 295 (IQR 79-853 to 1384 (IQR 557-3110) µg/m(3) which indicates that safe levels recommended by WHO and USEPA could be exceeded. Relatively high incidences of respiratory illness or symptoms were reported and the spirometry readings suggested impaired lung function in over 80% of respondents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results quantify that the use of biomass fuel can give rise to high levels of indoor air pollution. Given that poor lung function contributes to public health problems in rural regions of East Africa, such as Kwale in Kenya, our findings create grounds for more detailed investigations of the problem and may provide motivation for community based interventions.
authors.affiliation: Trnava University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Univerzitne namestie 1, 91701, Trnava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majdan
authors.affiliation: Trnava University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Univerzitne namestie 1, 91701, Trnava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svaro
authors.affiliation: Trnava University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Work, Department of Tropical Public Health and Development Studies, Univerzitne namestie 1, 91701, Trnava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bodo
authors.affiliation: Trnava University, Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Work, Department of Public Health, Univerzitne namestie 1, 91701, Trnava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: County Public Health Officer, Kwale County, Kenya.
authors.forename: Redempta Malinda
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Muendo
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D018533:Biomass; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003296:Cooking; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006798:Housing / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007630:Kenya; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014691:Ventilation; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D005579:Fossil Fuels
keywords: Indoor air quality; environmental exposures; environmental monitoring; public health; respiratory tract disease; rural communities