Effects of biomass burning on pulmonary functions in tribal women in northeastern India

Abstract

ABSTRACTWood smoke causes adverse effects on pulmonary function (PF) in women in developing countries. This study compared PF among rural tribal women in northeastern India among 266 wood users and 82 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) users, all healthy nonsmoking women from April to July, 2014. PF measurements included FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, and FEF25–75%. Information on participants’ health status, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics were collected by questionnaire. Multiple linear regressions were performed to compare PF between the two groups, adjusting for potential confounders. Wood users had significantly lower pulmonary values than LPG users: FVC (2.65 vs. 2.85 L, p < .001), FEV1 (1.46 vs. 1.92 L, p < .001), PEF (1.89 vs. 2.56 L/s, p < .001), and FEF25–75% (1.12 vs. 1.68 L/s, p < .001) except for FEV1/FVC (76.5 vs. 75.5 percent, p = .27). Wood use was associated with 7 percent lower FVC, 24 percent lower FEV1, 1.3 percent lower FEV1/FVC, 26 percent lower PEF, and 33 percent lower FEEF25–75% compared to LPG use. Wood use was associated with a 0.27-L decrease in FEV1, adjusted for covariates. Women cooking with wood had lower PF and more respiratory symptoms and gastritis than those using LPG. Thus, reducing indoor air pollution from biomass burning is needed to protect tribal women’s health.