Acute changes in lung function following controlled exposure to cookstove air pollution in the subclinical tests of volunteers exposed to smoke (STOVES) study. (23rd February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fedak, Kristen M.; Good, Nicholas; Walker, Ethan S.; Balmes, John; Brook, Robert D.; Clark, Maggie L.; Cole-Hunter, Tom; Devlin, Robert; L'Orange, Christian; Luckasen, Gary; Mehaffy, John; Shelton, Rhiannon; Wilson, Ander; Volckens, John; Peel, Jennifer L.
• Is Part Of: Inhalation toxicology. Volume 32:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 123
• Publication Date: 2020-02-23
• Subjects: Air pollution -- cookstoves -- spirometry -- FEV1 -- FVC -- controlled exposure; Pulmonary toxicology -- Animal models -- Periodicals; Pulmonary toxicology -- Periodicals; Air -- Pollution -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 616.200471
• DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2020.1751750
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-8378

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Exposure to household air pollution generated as a result of cooking and heating is a leading contributor to global disease. The effects of cookstove-generated air pollution on adult lung function, however, remain uncertain. Objectives: We investigated acute responses in lung function following controlled exposures to cookstove-generated air pollution. Methods: We recruited 48 healthy adult volunteers to undergo six two-hour treatments: a filtered-air control and emissions from five different stoves with fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) targets from 10 to 500 µg/m 3 . Spirometry was conducted prior to exposure and immediately, and three and 24 h post-exposure. Mixed-effect models were used to estimate differences in post-exposure lung function for stove treatments versus control. Results: Immediately post-exposure, lung function was lower compared to the control for the three highest PM2.5 -level stoves. The largest differences were for the fan rocket stove (target 250 µg/m 3 ; forced vital capacity (FVC): −60 mL, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -135, 15; forced expiratory volume (FEV1 ): −51 mL, 95% CI -117, 16; mid-expiratory flow (FEF25–75 ): −116 mL/s, 95% CI -239, 8). At 3 h post-exposure, lung function was lower compared to the control for all stove treatments; effects were of similar magnitude for all stoves. At 24 h post-exposure, results were consistent with a null association for FVC and FEV1 ; FEF25–75 was lower relative to the control for the gasifier, fan rocket, and three stone fire. Conclusions: Patterns suggesting short-term decreases in lung function follow from exposure to cookstove air pollution even for stove exposures with low PM2.5 levels.