Background: Cooking with biomass fuels on open fires results in exposure to health-damaging pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and particulate matter.
Objective: We compared CO exposures and urinary PAH biomarkers pre- and postintervention with an improved biomass stove, the Patsari stove.
Methods: In a subsample of 63 women participating in a randomized controlled trial in central Mexico, we measured personal CO exposure for 8 hr during the day using continuous monitors and passive samplers. In addition, first-morning urine samples obtained the next day were analyzed for monohydroxylated PAH metabolites by gas chromatography/isotope dilution/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Exposure data were collected during the use of an open fire (preintervention) and after installation of the improved stove (postintervention) for 47 women, enabling paired comparisons.
Results: Median pre- and postintervention values were 4 and 1 ppm for continuous personal CO and 3 and 1 ppm for passive sampler CO, respectively. Postintervention measurements indicated an average reduction of 42% for hydroxylated metabolites of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene on a whole-weight concentration basis (micrograms per liter of urine), and a 34% reduction on a creatinine-adjusted basis (micrograms per gram of creatinine). Pre- and postintervention geometric mean values for 1-hydroxypyrene were 3.2 and 2.0 μg/g creatinine, respectively.
Conclusion: Use of the Patsari stove significantly reduced CO and PAH exposures in women. However, levels of many PAH biomarkers remained higher than those reported among smokers.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002927 | DOI Listing |
J Phys Ther Sci
January 2025
Center for Frontier Medical Engineering, Chiba University, Japan.
[Purpose] The safety and physiological effects of combined training with breathing resistance and sustained physical exertion in middle-aged and older adults remain unclear. This pilot study investigated the safety and physiological benefits of this training method in older adults. [Participants and Methods] Participants aged 55-75 without respiratory, circulatory, or metabolic diseases were randomly divided into two groups: a combined breathing and physical training group and a control group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMedication adherence in older adults is a growing concern and is a critical element in treating chronic diseases. This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of a mobile device reminder on medication adherence in those aged 60 and over. Initiating the mobile reminder proved to be beneficial in increasing medication adherence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHarm Reduct J
January 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Background: The global emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems, disrupting routine services and necessitating swift adaptations. Harm reduction programs, vital for addressing substance use-related health risks, faced unique challenges during the pandemic, impacting vulnerable populations. This study focuses on the repercussions of Covid-19 on harm reduction policies in Iran, specifically examining the distribution of condoms, syringes, and methadone to high-risk individuals attending Triangle Centers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPediatr Obes
January 2025
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Background: This study investigated the long-term impact of the primary school-based multicomponent lifestyle intervention "Lekker Fit!" (LF) on obesity-related outcomes, and studied whether the impact differed between population subgroups.
Methods: Children from the Generation R Study (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) were categorized into the LF group (6 years exposure, between the ages 6/7 to 12/13 years) or regular school group (no exposure). BMI and DXA-derived fat mass were assessed after 4 years of intervention (age 10 years), and 1.
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Objectives: This pilot study evaluated a telehealth training simulation program for practicing clinicians, specifically focused on addressing patient issues of equity and access to healthcare via improving telehealth communication.
Methods: Participants participated in a one-hour simulation experience with two cases. Performance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using a checklist measuring communication domains related to equity and access in telehealth.
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