Assessment of indoor air quality through particulate matter, serum CRP levels and cardiopulmonary health of biomass using rural women

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the major public health issues worldwide. Exposure to air pollution has been linked to various health-related issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, although the exact pathophysiological mechanism remains elusive. The main focus of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory and oxidative stress responses to indoor air pollution exposure. This study investigated the effect of indoor pollutants generated from biomass burning on biomarkers (i.e., Clara cell protein (CC16), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and 8-hydrox-2′-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]). One hundred healthy rural women aged 25–65 were recruited to investigate their cardiopulmonary health, blood biomarkers, and pollution status inside their kitchen rooms. Pollutant concentrations were monitored indoors with the time-activity of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5, PM₁), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and formaldehyde (HCHO). Serum samples were analyzed for biomarkers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to ensure precise measurements and enhanced sensitivity. Study results revealed higher particulate and gaseous pollutant concentrations in kitchen rooms of biomass users (p < 0.001). In unadjusted analysis, baseline serum levels of CRP (7.96 vs. 1.68 mg/L; p < 0.001), IL-8 (51.26 vs. 9.56 pg/mL; p < 0.001), 8-OHdG (71.74 vs. 26.23 ng/mL; p < 0.001) and LDH (335.1 vs. 227.65 U/L; p < 0.001) were increased in biomass-exposed vs. clean fuel users, respectively, whereas serum levels of CC16 (4846.68 ± 832.37 pg/mL; p < 0.001) were decreased. Study results revealed that particulate matter has strong positive correlations with CRP and IL-8 and a negative association with CC16 among biomass users. These findings suggest that chronic exposure to indoor pollutants may be associated with differences in markers of inflammation, lung epithelial injury, and oxidative DNA damage among tribal women. Further, this study may help explain abnormal cardiovascular and respiratory complications among rural tribal biomass fuel users.