Publications by authors named "L Nicolaou"
Repeated measurements of household air pollution may provide better estimates of average exposure but can add to costs and participant burden. In a randomized trial of gas versus biomass cookstoves in four countries, we took supplemental personal 24-h measurements on a 10% subsample for mothers and infants, interspersed between protocol samples. Mothers had up to five postrandomization protocol measurements over 16 months, while infants had three measurements over one year.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExposure to household air pollution has been linked to adverse health outcomes among women aged 40-79. Little is known about how shifting from biomass cooking to a cleaner fuel like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) could impact exposures for this population. We report 24-h exposures to particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO) among women aged 40 to <80 years participating in the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network trial.
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- Brick kiln workers in Nepal are often overlooked and face high exposure to harmful silica, yet few use personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard their health.
- A study conducted in Bhaktapur revealed that only 28.9% of surveyed workers used respiratory PPE, with many lacking awareness about silicosis and the effectiveness of proper protective gear.
- Key factors influencing PPE use included higher household income and education levels, highlighting the need for improved education and resources to address knowledge gaps and encourage safety practices.
Article Synopsis
- Residential biomass burning significantly contributes to black carbon (BC) exposure in rural communities, especially among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries.
- In a study involving 3103 pregnant women, those who received liquefied petroleum gas stoves showed much lower BC exposure (2.8 μg/m) compared to those using traditional biomass stoves (9.6 μg/m).
- The study identified primary stove type as the strongest predictor of BC exposure, and highlights the need to consider various factors, such as kitchen location and adherence to stove use, to improve the efficacy of cookstove intervention trials.
Article Synopsis
- - Brick kilns produce harmful emissions that negatively impact air quality and the health of nearby workers and residents, with limited evidence on the extent of these effects; a systematic review was conducted to analyze the pollution and its health consequences.
- - Out of 104 studies reviewed, the majority were from South Asia, focusing on key pollutants like particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO), and carbon monoxide (CO), with common health issues including respiratory problems and musculoskeletal disorders among brick kiln workers.
- - The findings showed that traditional brick kilns emitted higher levels of PM and CO compared to improved designs, and while brick kiln workers generally had poorer health outcomes than unexposed individuals, the overall quality of the studies was low, indicating