Effect of indoor air pollution caused by domestic cooking on respiratory problems of elderly women: Fid-Bau Portal

Effect of indoor air pollution caused by domestic cooking on respiratory problems of elderly women

Jedrychowski, W. / Tobiasz-Adamczyk, B. / Flak, E. / Mroz, E. / Gomola, K.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of indoor air pollution resulting from the use of gas cookers by elderly women (older than 65 years) who may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of indoor air pollutants because they spend a greater proportion of their time at home. A total of 560 elderly women living in the Krakow city center were included in the survey. The survey data were collected using standardized interviews dealing with coughing; phlegm production; dyspnea on effort; past chest illnesses diagnosed by a doctor; smoking habits; education; socioeconomic conditions; the type of heating system in the household; passive smoking; the type of cooking oven; the average time spent daily cooking meals; and the proportion of time spent daily in the kitchen and other rooms of the household. In all respondents, lung function was tested with a Vitalograph spirometer. The relative risk of chronic phlegm was strongly related to exposure duration due to cooking time. Regarding dyspnea on effort, there was an increased risk among those with longer exposure times, but the trend was not as steep as it was for chronic phlegm. The mean FEV1 level was not related to domestic cooking time; however, the age-related FEV1 decline coefficient was much greater in those elderly women who on average were involved in cooking activities longer.