The assessment of health risk among biomass smoke exposed rural tribal women and its effect on blood platelet activities

Abstract

Studies have reported that exposure to biomass smoke remains a public health burden worldwide. The present study was undertaken to examine the relationship between biomass smoke exposure and blood platelet indices among rural tribal women using biomass fuels. Particulate matter (PM_2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and PM_2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) concentrations were monitored to assess the level of indoor air pollution. The health status of the women was assessed through blood pressure measurements, and an automated hematology analyzer was used to determine platelet indices. Statistical models were used to examine the relationship between indoor air pollutants and platelet indices. The study results revealed a significant (p < 0.001) relationship between particulate matter (PM_2.5) and CO in biomass-using households compared to LPG-using households. Moreover, a high concentration of particulate matter-bound PAHs was also recorded in the kitchen rooms of biomass users. The study results revealed that elevated levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and platelet parameters (mean platelet volume, platelet count, platelet large cell coefficient, and platelet to lymphocyte ratio) were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated among biomass users. The correlation study also indicated a strong association (p < 0.05) between different PAHs and platelet indices. Health risk analysis revealed that PAH molecules exceeded the standard ILTCR value of 1.00 × 10^–6 for both biomass and LPG fuels. From this study, it may be concluded that tribal women are exposed to higher concentrations of indoor pollutants and these might alter their platelet activities which in the long term can aggravate their cardiovascular health problems.