AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
The Impact of Biomass Fuel Emissions on Women's Health in Rural Punjab
NABEELA FARAH, University of Agriculture, Department of Rural Sociology
Abstract Number: 833 Working Group: Biomass Combustion: Emissions, Chemistry, Air Quality, Climate, and Human Health
Abstract Indoor air pollution due to the burning of biomass fuel in developing countries is a well-established health hazard. In rural Punjab, biomass fuel is used as a primary source for cooking and heating. Biomass burning contains hundreds of compounds that have serious impact on women’s health. This study estimated the health effects of exposure to smoke from burning of agricultural waste, dung cakes and wood used in three districts of Punjab. Daily biomass fuel exposure and health outcomes were self-reported. Data included a survey of 480 women and interactions of fuel, stove and kitchen use were conducted to evaluate the health effects.These data were analyzed by using ordinal and multivariate logistic regression models and presented in the form of mediation, moderation and interaction effects. The results show the odds of having more frequent headaches increased (OR =3.62, p=.001) when dung cake was used in conjunction with blocked kitchen. Similarly, the odds of having more frequent chest pain increased (OR =8.05, p=.026) when wood was used in a mid-brick stove. The interaction between dung cake and time spent in the kitchen was significant. It results in higher odds of having more frequent cardiac disease by a factor of 5, when dung cake was used for 7-9 hours in the kitchen. Incomplete combustion caused by insufficient amount of air accounts for a strong association between wood use and coughing. Findings show the relationship between income and breathing problem was partially mediating by the use of agricultural waste and the odds of more frequent breathing problems in the low income group were more than double (OR=2.32, p=.002) that of the high income group. This study did not find the interaction of kitchen ventilation or kitchen construction with women’s health.