Assessing exposure to household air pollution in children under five: A scoping review. (15th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Kexin; Kawyn, Marissa N.; Kordas, Katarzyna; Mu, Lina; Yoo, Eun-Hye; Seibert, Rachel; Smith, Laura E.
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 311(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-15
• Subjects: Scoping review -- Children under five -- Household air pollution -- Exposure assessment; HAP household air pollution -- PM particulate matter -- CO carbon monoxide -- NOx nitrogen oxides -- PAHs polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- VOCs volatile organic compounds -- COHb carboxyhemoglobin -- LMICs low- and middle-income countries; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119917
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Understanding the differences in the approaches used to assess household air pollution (HAP) is crucial for evaluating HAP-related health effects and interpreting the effectiveness of stove-fuel interventions. Our review aims to understand how exposure to HAP from solid fuels was measured in epidemiological studies in children under five. We conducted a search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Global Health Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL to identify English-language research articles published between January 1, 2000 and April 30, 2022. Two researchers applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria independently. Study region, type of measurement, study design, health outcomes, and other key characteristics were extracted from each article and analyzed descriptively. Our search strategy yielded 2229 records, of which 185 articles were included. A large proportion was published between 2018 and 2022 (42.1%), applied a cross-sectional study design (47.6%), and took place in low- or lower middle-income countries. Most studies (130/185, 70.3%) assessed HAP using questionnaires/interviews, most frequently posing questions on cooking fuel type, followed by household ventilation and cooking location. Cooking frequency/duration and children's location while cooking was less commonly considered. About 28.6% (53/185) used monitors, but the application of personal portable samplers was limited (particulate matter [PM]: 12/40, 30.0%; carbon monoxide [CO]: 13/34, 38.2%). Few studies used biomarkers or modeling approaches to estimate HAP exposure among children under five. More studies that report household and behavioral characteristics and children's location while cooking, apply personal exposure samplers, and perform biomarker analysis are needed to advance our understandings of HAP exposure among infants and young children, who are particularly susceptible to HAP-related health effects. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: First scoping review summarizing approaches of HAP measurement in children under five. Few assessed household and behavioral characteristics and children's location while cooking. More research applying personal exposure samplers and biomarker analysis is needed.