OBJECTIVE: Indoor air pollution measured in terms of particulate matter < 2.5 microm in diameter (PM2.5), is an important cause of respiratory illness in children. Therefore, PM2.5 levels in rural households and its correlation with respiratory illness-related symptoms in children were studied. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey of children for respiratory illness-related symptoms was conducted in 37 households of a village (Khanpurjupti, Delhi-NCR, India) from September 2011 to October 2011. Assessment of 24-hour PM2.5 level was done using University of California-Berkeley Particle and Temperature Sensor (UCB-PATS). RESULTS: Thirty-seven households in a rural area were studied. These were divided into 20 respiratory households, i.e. those with children with respiratory illness-related symptoms and 17 control households. The 24-hour PM2.5 was measured in all the houses. The average minimum and maximum PM2.5 levels were 7.24 mg/m3 and 22.70 mg/m3, respectively (mean = 10.47 mg/m3) among the 20 respiratory households. The average minimum and maximum PM2.5 levels were 1.10 mg/m3 and 18.17 mg/m3, respectively (mean = 4.99 mg/m3) in the 17 control households. The PM2.5 levels were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in houses where children had respiratory symptoms compared to the control households. Further, biomass fuel use and number of family members were significantly associated with respiratory illness in children. CONCLUSION: Increased PM2.5 levels, biomass fuel use and number of family members were found to be associated with increased occurrence of respiratory illness in children.
OBJECTIVE: Indoor air pollution measured in terms of particulate matter < 2.5 microm in diameter (PM2.5), is an important cause of respiratory illness in children. Therefore, PM2.5 levels in rural households and its correlation with respiratory illness-related symptoms in children were studied. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey of children for respiratory illness-related symptoms was conducted in 37 households of a village (Khanpurjupti, Delhi-NCR, India) from September 2011 to October 2011. Assessment of 24-hour PM2.5 level was done using University of California-Berkeley Particle and Temperature Sensor (UCB-PATS). RESULTS: Thirty-seven households in a rural area were studied. These were divided into 20 respiratory households, i.e. those with children with respiratory illness-related symptoms and 17 control households. The 24-hour PM2.5 was measured in all the houses. The average minimum and maximum PM2.5 levels were 7.24 mg/m3 and 22.70 mg/m3, respectively (mean = 10.47 mg/m3) among the 20 respiratory households. The average minimum and maximum PM2.5 levels were 1.10 mg/m3 and 18.17 mg/m3, respectively (mean = 4.99 mg/m3) in the 17 control households. The PM2.5 levels were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in houses where children had respiratory symptoms compared to the control households. Further, biomass fuel use and number of family members were significantly associated with respiratory illness in children. CONCLUSION: Increased PM2.5 levels, biomass fuel use and number of family members were found to be associated with increased occurrence of respiratory illness in children.
Authors: Nipuni Nilakshini Wimalasena; Alice Chang-Richards; Kevin I-Kai Wang; Kim N Dirks Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 3.390