Fireplace smoke on
respiratory health

Project Summary

Biomass fuel is burned organic material used for cooking, heating, and lighting by approximately 2.4 for billion people in developing countries. Although biomass is extremely inefficient, it is the only source of fuel that low income homes in developing countries can afford. The burning of biomass has been linked to an increased risk of respiratory infections along with various other problems with the lungs, heart, and eyes, because of the particulate matter it generates. The lack of proper ventilation has further exacerbated these risks. Because women typically spend more time cooking and doing various other activities in the kitchen than men in the kitchen, on average, woman are more likely than men to have respiratory problems. Women in socially marginalized groups are doubly disadvantaged.

This study 1) quantified the effects of smoke exposure from fireplace cooking on respiratory health and lung function in two different villages in rural Nepal, and 2) collected qualitative data on how social and economic variables limit choices of specific cooking technology and how that affects pulmonary health status.

Skills Developed

  • Participant Observation & Ethnography

  • Field Research

  • Survey Creation

  • Quantitative Analysis

  • Obtaining written and oral consent

Study population

The primary cooks in each household from two villages in rural Nepal

Methods

  • Observed participants while they were cooking on their fireplaces inside the kitchen and took detailed field notes of this process, taking note food items that were cooked, amount of smoke appearing in kitchen, signs of coughing and discomfort caused by smoke etc.

  • Data on the overall size, construction of the kitchen, type of ventilation, stove and fuel usage, the elevation, and their underlying reason for using their cooking methods was gathered.

  • Short, standardized questionnaire in interview form was used to determine the total time they spend in the kitchen on average, tobacco history, previous symptoms of illness, any known history of health problems within the family, along with their height, age, sex and weight. Participants were also asked to recall smoke inhalation and smoking habits over life course as much as possible.

  • Quantitative data measures were gathered from peak expiratory flow meters, pedometers, and oximeters to estimate their overall respiratory health status, average physical activity levels, and afterward conduct statistical data analysis.