Association of Exposure to Biomass Smoke with Reduced Pulmonary Functions in Rural School Children- A Cross-sectional Study Findings

Abstract

Background: Children are at higher risk of developing respiratory diseases when they expose to biomass smoke. Very few studies have compared the duration of exposure to pulmonary function tests in children. The purpose of the study was to observe the effect of biomass fuel smoke on respiratory functions in 40 school-going children aged between 7 to 14 years and to compare these parameters with 40 age and sex-matched healthy children of the same school, and correlate their duration of exposure through pulmonary function tests. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out over six months (August 2018 to January 2019). The selection of the study population was carried out from one of the Government primary schools. Eighty students participated in the study. The study population was divided into two groups. Group-1 consisted of 40 school children exposed to biomass smoke aged between 7 to 14 years as cases. Group-2 consisted of the same number of sex and age-matched controls who had no exposure to biomass smoke. After the relevant history, questionnaire, and respiratory examinations, children were subjected to spirometry. Schiller’s Spirovit-SP1 was also used. Results: The prevalence of some of the respiratory symptoms in biomass smokers was significant compared to non-smokers. There was a significant 1.125 fold reduction in FVC (p=0.003*) and 1.195 fold reduction in FEV1 (p=0.000*) in smokers compared to non-smokers. A significant correlation existed between duration of exposure to FVC (r=-0.508 p=0.001) and FEV1 (r=-0.462 p=0.005). Conclusions: We concluded that biomass smoke significantly reduced FVC and FEV1 in children, and these parameters are negatively correlated with the number of hours of exposure.