Lung function & biomass smoke exposure in young adults in rural Nepal | China Joins the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
Dan Campbell
Reduced lung function due to biomass smoke exposure in young adults in rural Nepal
MAY 4, 2012 · 0 COMMENTS
European Respiratory Journal, May 3, 2012
Reduced lung function due to biomass smoke exposure in young adults in rural Nepal
Om P Kurmi, et al.
This study aimed to assess the effects of biomass smoke exposure on lung function in a Nepalese population addressing some of these methodological issues from previous studies.
We carried out a cross-sectional study of adults in a population exposed to biomass smoke and a non-exposed population in Nepal. Questionnaire and lung function data were acquired along with direct measures of indoor and outdoor air quality.
Ventilatory function (FEV1, FVC, FEF25–75) was significantly reduced in the population using biomass across all age groups compared to the non-biomass using population, even in the youngest (16–25) age group [mean FEV1 (95% CI) 2.65 (2.57–2.73) vs. 2.83 (2.74–2.91), p=0.004]. Airflow obstruction was twice as common among biomass users compared to liquefied petroleum gas users (8.1% vs. 3.6%, p<0.001) with similar patterns for males (7.4% vs. 3.3%, p=0.022) and females (10.8% vs. 3.8%, p<0.001) based on lower limit of normal. Smoking was a major risk factor for airflow obstruction but biomass exposure added to the risk.
Exposure to biomass smoke is associated with deficits in lung function, an effect which can be detected as early as late teenage years. Biomass smoke and cigarette smoke have additive adverse effects on airflow obstruction in this setting.
China Joins the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
US State Dept Media Note, May 3, 2012
Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo announced that China has joined the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves during a tour of a clean cookstove exhibit with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Beijing today. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is a public-private partnership that seeks to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat climate change by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. By joining the Alliance, China will help meet the Alliance’s goal to ensure 100 million homes adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020.
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which was launched by Secretary Clinton in 2010, represents the first time that world leaders have come together to develop and implement a sustainable strategy to bring clean and efficient cooking solutions to families across the globe.
In China, approximately 80 percent of households rely on solid fuels like wood or dung to meet their energy needs. According to World Health Organization estimates, this exposure accounts for more than 540,000 premature deaths in China each year, and significant chronic and acute illnesses. By joining the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, China is taking an important step towards reducing the enormous health, gender, economic and environmental risks associated with inefficient and polluting cookstoves both in China and in developing markets around the world.
China’s domestic cookstove industry is one of the world’s largest with over 100 manufacturers. As part of the Alliance, China will support efforts to establish global performance standards for cookstoves and work with domestic manufacturers to meet these standards. China will consider multiple options for work under the Alliance, including support for research and development to accelerate advancements around technology, agriculture and fuels, health and climate, the development of an international stoves research center, efforts to adapt high-performing domestic stoves for global markets, and efforts to bring clean cooking solutions to homes in China.
To date, more than 300 public and private partners and 35 countries have joined theGlobal Alliance for Clean Cookstoves by making commitments to overcome market barriers and achieve large-scale production, deployment, and adoption of clean stoves and fuels in the developing world.