Indoor air pollution and prevalence of pneumonia in highlander's children in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

Background: Indoor air pollution is one of the leading cause for frequent lower respiratory tract infections that some studies shown in developing countries. Objective: Evaluation the level of indoor air pollution and prevalence of pneumonia in highlander9s children. Method: For determine the indoor air pollution we studied the level of respirable particles PM2.5 in the air in 37 houses on the Aksai valley in high altitude plateau located 3200-3800 meters above sea level with using special equipment TSI SidePak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor. We also used validated questionnaires, which was included a questions regarding pneumonia in children. Results: All mountaineers use of biomass for cooking and heating in all the 37 houses that we have investigated. We found high levels of indoor air pollution in houses of highlanders, and it was confirmed by the high values of respirable particles PM2.5 in the air in these houses. Thus, the maximum value of the respirable particles PM2,5 (Maxmg /m3 ) was 7,03 ± 1,146. The average value PM2,5 (Avgmg/m 3 ) - 0,289 ± 0,066, and TWA (8hr) was 0,169 ± 0,037. Importantly, that we also found higher values of carbon monoxide (COppm)-1,5 ±0,411. The frequency of occurrence of pneumonia in highlander9s children was 9,52%, while the overall morbidity in Kyrgyzstan amounted to about 1%. Conclusion: The preliminary results demonstrate that there is a high level of indoor air pollution in the highland9s houses of Kyrgyzstan that possibly associated with the incidence of pneumonia in highlander9s children.