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USE OF BIOMASS FUEL IS ASSOCIATED WITH INFANT MORTALITY AND CHILD HEALTH IN TREND ANALYSIS

Biomass fuel used for cooking results in widespread exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP), affecting nearly 3 billion people throughout the world. Few studies, however, have tested for an exposure–response relationship between biomass fuel and health outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between biomass fuel, infant mortality, and children’s respiratory symptoms. Eighty households in a rural community in Ecuador were selected based on their use of biomass fuel and questioned regarding a history of infant mortality and children’s respiratory symptoms. Carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) were measured in a subset of these homes to confirm the relationship between biomass fuel use and IAP. Results showed a significant trend for higher infant mortality among households that cooked with a greater proportion of biomass fuel (P = 0.008). Similar trends were noted for history of cough (P = 0.02) and earache (P < 0.001) among children living in these households.

Received April 29, 2006. Accepted for publication October 11, 2006.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank the Cinterandes Foundation for encouragement and technical support. We also thank Susana Portilla, Dr. Brooke Bender, Dr. Maria Arevalo, Dr. Maribel Valdiviezo, Dr. Fernando Cordero, and Dr. Gabriel Reyes for help in conducting surveys and valuable suggestions.

^* Address correspondence to Seppo T. Rinne, Indiana University School of Medicine, 7415 Charrington Court, Indianapolis, IN 46254. E-mail: srinne{at}iupui.edu

Authors’ addresses: Seppo T. Rinne, Indiana University School of Medicine, 7415 Charrington Court, Indianapolis, IN 46254, Telephone: 317-748-4388, Fax: 317-278-5211. Edgar J. Rodas, Cinterandes Foundation, Departament of Family Health, University of Azuay, PO Box 310, Cuenca, Ecuador. Mikael L. Rinne, Indiana University School of Medicine, 7415 Charrington Court, Indianapolis, IN 46254, Telephone: 317-391-4233, Fax: 317-278-5211. Joshua M. Simpson, Columbia University, 10th Floor, Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, Telephone: 212-854-9987, Fax: 212-854-8188. Larry T. Glickman, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, Telephone: 765-494-2294, Fax: 765-494-9830.

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