Purpose: Exposures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) cause respiratory symptoms among children, a known vulnerable group. Reports on exposures to VOCs and respiratory symptoms among South Indian children living in biomass-using households are not available thus far.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 313 rural children to assess the influence of emitted VOCs on their respiratory health. Standard analytical procedures for VOCs and Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), allied questionnaires, and all ethical considerations were fulfilled in the study.
Results: The increase in VOC concentrations was observed proportional to the amount of burnt biomass fuel in two selected sites in Tamil Nadu (TN) and Andhra Pradesh (AP). Houses cooked for more than 60 min showed a remarkable increase in VOC concentrations and was observed as statistically significant (p < 0.01) in AP households. Among the younger children, the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values were found significantly higher than comparatively older children in both the sites, TN and AP. However, the trend with respect to FEV1 is statistically significant (p < 0.01) among AP children.
Conclusions: This study reports reduced lung function for a considerable proportion of the VOC-exposed selected children. Based on PFT, the children who were interpreted to be normal were found to be exposed to lesser indoor TVOC concentrations in comparison with the children of the households having restrictive or obstructive impairments. Diagnostic ratios with Benzene/Toluene (B/T) and Xylene/Ethyl benzene (X/E) confirmed the presence of VOCs-emissions from adjacent cooking fuels only. The observed results of this study recommends cleaner cooking fuel-use for better respiratory health among the citizens across the country, which in turn, in line with the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Government of India.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-023-01998-1 | DOI Listing |
China CDC Wkly
December 2024
National Center for Occupational Safety and Health, NHC, Beijing, China.
Introduction: Pneumoconiosis represents the most prevalent occupational disease in China, with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) showing the highest incidence. Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath of CWP patients may provide novel insights into its pathogenesis.
Methods: Study data were collected through questionnaires and medical examinations.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf
January 2025
College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. Electronic address:
Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been linked with numerous respiratory diseases. Recently, lung microbiome is proposed to be characterized with development and progression of respiratory diseases. However, the underlying effects of TRAP exposure on lung microbiome are rarely explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer Med
January 2025
Department of Health Management Center, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Background: Advances in imaging technology have enhanced the detection of pulmonary nodules. However, determining malignancy often requires invasive procedures or repeated radiation exposure, underscoring the need for safer, noninvasive diagnostic alternatives. Analyzing exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) shows promise, yet its effectiveness in assessing the malignancy of pulmonary nodules remains underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
December 2024
Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 413 34 Larissa, Greece.
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates investigation into their clinical differentiation and outcomes. This study aimed to examine these differences among VOCs, considering multiple related factors. An observational cohort study was conducted on patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection via nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab who visited the emergency department of a public Greek hospital between October 2020 and July 2022 during different VOC circulation in the region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
December 2024
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.
Background: To optimize vaccination strategies, it is useful to detect breakthrough infections and assess vaccine effectiveness in programmatic use. Monitoring emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine effectiveness against them is also essential to determine the most effective vaccine options. This study aims to monitor SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections, the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, and host immune response during the peri-infection period of COVID-19.
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