Biomass Smoke and Cooking: Can Carbon Monoxide Be Used as a Proxy Measure of Respirable Particulate Matter?

Abstract

PP-29-203 Background/Aims: The accurate and cost-effective measurement of parameters such as air pollution in studies are of great importance, particularly in developing country settings where constraints may be magnified. Prior studies have suggested the use of carbon monoxide (CO) as a more economical and simpler proxy measure of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), particularly when assessing children's exposures. However, no studies have evaluated the relationship between CO and larger particles (PM10) concentrations, which also have an important effect on respiratory health. Methods: Concentrations of PM10 (area) and CO (area and personal) from the kitchens and sleeping rooms of case and control households in Nouna, Burkina Faso, were measured. These assessments were part of a larger study examining the relationship between biomass smoke and the risk of malaria among women and children. Passive, real-time samplers were used to measure area PM10. Area and personal CO concentrations were measured with dosimeter tubes. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate these relationships. Results: On comparing overall PM10 and CO area concentrations, the 2 measures were found to be significantly correlated (r = 0.79, P < 0.0001, n = 224), although not as strongly. A significant but weaker correlation was also present between area CO and personal CO concentrations (r = 0.21, P = 0.0047, n = 183). Conclusion: These results suggest that area CO could be a simple proxy measure of area PM10 concentrations, although this relationship may not be consistent across all settings. Variations may occur with different stove and fuel types. On the other hand, personal CO measures may not be a reliable indicator of area PM10 concentrations, especially since personal exposures are not likely to occur continuously over the entire burn cycle but instead experienced intermittently. Therefore, area CO measures may provide more consistent results of stationary air pollution monitoring.