Study of the Lung Function Tests in Healthy Non-Smoking Women Using Different Cooking Fuels

Abstract

Background: In developing country like India still a large group of women use biomass as the cookingfuel in a poorly ventilated cooking area and it is considered as a major risk factor for respiratory diseases.Throughthis study we sought to find the effect of biomass and LPG fuel use on the lung function by studspirometry.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural and urban areas of Ghaziabad. We assessedthe lung function in 100 non-smoker females (50 biomass and 50 LPG fuel users) and studies the presenceof any correlation between lung function and the duration of exposure.Results: Compared to LPG users biomass fuel users had significantly lower values of FVC (p = 0.007), FEV1(p = 0.0024), FEV1/FVC (p <0.0001) and PEFR (p = 0.007). Statistically significant negative correlationwas also found between exposure index and spirometry values in both the groups.Conclusion: Biomass fuel has a more adverse effect on the lung function and the lung function decline isassociated with the exposure duration.