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Li C, Xia Y, Wang L. Household unclean fuel use, indoor pollution and self-rated health: risk assessment of environmental pollution caused by energy poverty from a public health perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:18030-18053. [PMID: 37217815 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27676-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The lack of access to clean energy remains one of the major challenges in the global energy sector. Access to clean, sustainable and affordable energy, outlined in the seventh Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7) of the United Nations, plays a crucial role in advancing health (SDG 3), as unclean cooking energy may endanger people's health by causing air pollution. However, due to endogeneity problems such as reverse causality, the health consequences of environmental pollution caused by unclean fuel usage are difficult to be scientifically and accurately evaluated. This paper aims to systematically assess the health cost of unclean fuel usage based on tackling endogeneity, using the data from Chinese General Social Survey. The ordinary least squares model, ordered regression methods, instrumental variable approach, penalized machine learning methods, placebo test, and mediation models are applied in this research. Analytical results demonstrate that households' unclean fuel use significantly damages people's health. Specifically, the use of dirty fuel leads to an average of about a one-standard-deviation decline in self-rated health, demonstrating its notable negative effect. The findings are robust to a series of robustness and endogeneity tests. The impact mechanism is that unclean fuel usage reduces people's self-rated health through increasing indoor pollution. Meanwhile, the negative effect of dirty fuel use on health has significant heterogeneity among different subgroups. The consequences are more prominent for the vulnerable groups who are female, younger, living in rural areas and older buildings, with lower socio-economic status and uncovered by social security. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to improve energy infrastructure to make clean cooking energy more affordable and accessible as well as to enhance people's health. Besides, more attention should be paid to the energy needs of the above specific vulnerable groups faced with energy poverty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Business School, Shandong University, No. 180 Wenhuaxi Road, Weihai, 264209, China.
| | - Yuxin Xia
- HSBC Business School, Peking University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Glorious Sun School of Business and Management, Donghua University, Shanghai, China
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Li L, Xia H, Chen Z, Duan M, Pei J. Spatiotemporal characteristics and driving mechanisms of household energy transition in rural China: Micro-evidence from 2005 to 2017. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168554. [PMID: 37979871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Facilitating the household energy transition in rural China conducive to mitigate climate change, improve population health, and achieve 'carbon peaking and carbon neutrality' goals. However, there was no consensus in existing research on the regularity of rural household energy transition from a micro perspective. Based on data from 339 villages spanning 2005-2017, with the help of kernel density estimation(KDE), exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA), and logistic regression, we evaluated the effectiveness of household energy transition and comprehensively analyzed the temporal and spatial characteristics of the energy transition process from geographic perspective, revealed the driving mechanisms behind household energy transition, with important findings. (i) In 2005-2015, 19.22 % and 13.08 % of rural households achieved fuel and heating transition, but there were evident regional differences and correlation effects in energy transition. (ii) The proportion of energy transitions increases, yet always a polarised lattice phenomenon, and the spatial adjacent spillover effect makes the energy transition present the spatial pattern of 'villages divided into clusters'. (iii) The drivers of different types household energy transition vary, income and topography continued to limit the energy transition of rural households. Therefore, designing differentiated policies and pathways by region is critical in the clean energy transition. In addition, local governments can increase incentives for clean energy utilization by setting reasonable subsidies for continuous clean energy transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Li
- School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Research Base for Co-construction and Sharing of Shaanxi Human Settlement Environment and Better Life in the New Era, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Haoming Xia
- School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Research Base for Co-construction and Sharing of Shaanxi Human Settlement Environment and Better Life in the New Era, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
| | - Zhiyu Chen
- School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Research Base for Co-construction and Sharing of Shaanxi Human Settlement Environment and Better Life in the New Era, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Mimi Duan
- School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Research Base for Co-construction and Sharing of Shaanxi Human Settlement Environment and Better Life in the New Era, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Jiajia Pei
- School of Management, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Key Research Base for Co-construction and Sharing of Shaanxi Human Settlement Environment and Better Life in the New Era, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
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Zhang Y, Yu Y, Fong PSW, Shen J. Addressing unforeseen public health risks via the use of sustainable system and process management. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1249277. [PMID: 38026358 PMCID: PMC10667458 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1249277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was designated by the World Health Organization in January 2020 as a newly emerging coronavirus in 2019, and its variants have placed unbearable strain on the healthcare systems of various countries, with serious implications for sustainable development worldwide. Researchers have proposed several solutions, such as the use of digital technologies to improve prevention systems. However, the challenges of epidemic prevention and control failures have not been addressed fundamentally, as the key causes of epidemic failures (i.e., outbreaks) and strategies for process management have been neglected. The purpose of the current study is to address these issues by exploring the causes of epidemic prevention and control failure and targeting improvement strategies that combine system structure of epidemic prevention and process management. Specifically, following an exploration of the main reasons for COVID-19 prevention and control failures through a case study of two tertiary hospitals, this paper outlines a targeted prevention and control system based on triangular validation and a loosely coupled process management framework and verifies the expected results using simulation methods together with statistical data on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China. The findings not only advance the development of epidemic risk prevention and control theory, especially the complementary nature of IT applications and process management in the field of epidemic risk prevention and control, but also provide guidance on the innovation and implementation of epidemic prevention and control systems and process management and recommendations for countries to promote sustainable development from a health-focused perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhang
- Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick Sik Wah Fong
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jianfu Shen
- Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Prah RKD, Jack D, Tawiah T, Iddrisu S, Abubakari SW, Mujtaba MN, Tetteh RJ, Gyaase S, Twumasi M, Saah J, Wilson J, Addo S, Pope D, Asante KP, Puzzolo E. Did COVID-19 Change the Availability and Use of Clean Energy for Cooking? Evidence From Ghana. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2023; 17:11786302231198854. [PMID: 37736574 PMCID: PMC10510355 DOI: 10.1177/11786302231198854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
A major part of Ghana's current household energy policy is focused on using a branded cylinder recirculation model (BCRM) to promote the safe use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for primary cooking. The implementation of the BCRM is expected to increase LPG adoption by households to the announced policy goal of 50% of the population by 2030. We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of the BCRM, availability, and household use of cleaner fuels. This was assessed using existing data on clean fuel use prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional data was collected using questionnaire-based household surveys and qualitative interviews. It was found that the expansion of BCRM was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning activities such as baseline data collection and stakeholder engagement were delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Changes in household incomes during the pandemic had the biggest percentage effect on household choice of cooking fuel, causing a regression in some cases, to polluting fuel use. This study provides insights that could be valuable in future understanding of the interactions between pandemic control measures and economic disruptions that may affect household energy choices for cooking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca KD Prah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | | | - Theresa Tawiah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Seidu Iddrisu
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Sulemana Watara Abubakari
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Mohammed Nuhu Mujtaba
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Richard Joshua Tetteh
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Stephaney Gyaase
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Mieks Twumasi
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Jason Saah
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | | | | | - Daniel Pope
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kwaku Poku Asante
- Research and Development Division, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo North Municipality, Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
| | - Elisa Puzzolo
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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5
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Williams KN, Quinn A, North H, Wang J, Pillarisetti A, Thompson LM, Díaz-Artiga A, Balakrishnan K, Thangavel G, Rosa G, Ndagijimana F, Underhill LJ, Kirby MA, Puzzolo E, Hossen S, Waller LA, Peel JL, Rosenthal JP, Clasen TF, Harvey SA, Checkley W. Fidelity and adherence to a liquefied petroleum gas stove and fuel intervention: The multi-country Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 179:108160. [PMID: 37660633 PMCID: PMC10512198 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reducing household air pollution (HAP) to levels associated with health benefits requires nearly exclusive use of clean cooking fuels and abandonment of traditional biomass fuels. METHODS The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial randomized 3,195 pregnant women in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda to receive a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention (n = 1,590), with controls expected to continue cooking with biomass fuels (n = 1,605). We assessed fidelity to intervention implementation and participant adherence to the intervention starting in pregnancy through the infant's first birthday using fuel delivery and repair records, surveys, observations, and temperature-logging stove use monitors (SUMs). RESULTS Fidelity and adherence to the HAPIN intervention were high. Median time required to refill LPG cylinders was 1 day (interquartile range 0-2). Although 26% (n = 410) of intervention participants reported running out of LPG at some point, the number of times was low (median: 1 day [Q1, Q3: 1, 2]) and mostly limited to the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most repairs were completed on the same day as problems were reported. Traditional stove use was observed in only 3% of observation visits, and 89% of these observations were followed up with behavioral reinforcement. According to SUMs data, intervention households used their traditional stove a median of 0.4% of all monitored days, and 81% used the traditional stove < 1 day per month. Traditional stove use was slightly higher post-COVID-19 (detected on a median [Q1, Q3] of 0.0% [0.0%, 3.4%] of days) than pre-COVID-19 (0.0% [0.0%, 1.6%] of days). There was no significant difference in intervention adherence pre- and post-birth. CONCLUSION Free stoves and an unlimited supply of LPG fuel delivered to participating homes combined with timely repairs, behavioral messaging, and comprehensive stove use monitoring contributed to high intervention fidelity and near-exclusive LPG use within the HAPIN trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N Williams
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Hayley North
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiantong Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ajay Pillarisetti
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M Thompson
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anaité Díaz-Artiga
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Gurusamy Thangavel
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Ghislaine Rosa
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Lindsay J Underhill
- Cardiovascular Division, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Miles A Kirby
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Puzzolo
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Shakir Hossen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lance A Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Peel
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joshua P Rosenthal
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas F Clasen
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven A Harvey
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William Checkley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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6
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Williams KN, Quinn A, North H, Wang J, Pillarisetti A, Thompson LM, Díaz-Artiga A, Balakrishnan K, Thangavel G, Rosa G, Ndagijimana F, Underhill LJ, Kirby MA, Puzzolo E, Hossen S, Waller LA, Peel JL, Rosenthal JP, Clasen TF, Harvey SA, Checkley W. Fidelity and adherence to a liquefied petroleum gas stove and fuel intervention: the multi-country Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.06.20.23291670. [PMID: 37425899 PMCID: PMC10327189 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.20.23291670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Reducing household air pollution (HAP) to levels associated with health benefits requires nearly exclusive use of clean cooking fuels and abandonment of traditional biomass fuels. Methods The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial randomized 3,195 pregnant women in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda to receive a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention (n=1,590), with controls expected to continue cooking with biomass fuels (n=1,605). We assessed fidelity to intervention implementation and participant adherence to the intervention starting in pregnancy through the infant's first birthday using fuel delivery and repair records, surveys, observations, and temperature-logging stove use monitors (SUMs). Results Fidelity and adherence to the HAPIN intervention were high. Median time required to refill LPG cylinders was 1 day (interquartile range 0-2). Although 26% (n=410) of intervention participants reported running out of LPG at some point, the number of times was low (median: 1 day [Q1, Q3: 1, 2]) and mostly limited to the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most repairs were completed on the same day as problems were reported. Traditional stove use was observed in only 3% of observation visits, and 89% of these observations were followed up with behavioral reinforcement. According to SUMs data, intervention households used their traditional stove a median of 0.4% of all monitored days, and 81% used the traditional stove <1 day per month. Traditional stove use was slightly higher post-COVID-19 (detected on a median [Q1, Q3] of 0.0% [0.0%, 3.4%] of days) than pre-COVID-19 (0.0% [0.0%, 1.6%] of days). There was no significant difference in intervention adherence pre- and post-birth. Conclusion Free stoves and an unlimited supply of LPG fuel delivered to participating homes combined with timely repairs, behavioral messaging, and comprehensive stove use monitoring contributed to high intervention fidelity and near-exclusive LPG use within the HAPIN trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N. Williams
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Hayley North
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jiantong Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ajay Pillarisetti
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M. Thompson
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anaité Díaz-Artiga
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Gurusamy Thangavel
- ICMR Center for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Climate and Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Ghislaine Rosa
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Lindsay J. Underhill
- Cardiovascular Division, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Miles A. Kirby
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elisa Puzzolo
- Public Health, Policy & Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Shakir Hossen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Peel
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joshua P. Rosenthal
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas F. Clasen
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven A. Harvey
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William Checkley
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Global Non-Communicable Disease Research and Training, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Tian G, Ma Y, Cui Y, Yang W, Shuai J, Yan Y. Association of cooking fuel use with risk of cancer and all-cause mortality among Chinese elderly people: a prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27873-7. [PMID: 37273059 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27873-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
When cooking with biomass and fossil fuels, their incomplete burning can lead to air pollution, which can trigger pernicious effects on people's health, especially among the elderly, who are more vulnerable to toxic and harmful environmental damage. This study explored the association between different cooking fuel types and the risk of cancer and all-cause mortality among seniors constructing Cox regression models. Data were obtained by linking waves of 6, 7, and 8 of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, which included a total of 7269 participants who were 65 years old and over. Cooking fuels were categorized as either biomass, fossil, or clean fuels. And the effects of switching cooking fuels on death risk were also investigated using Cox regression models. The results indicate that, compared with the users of clean fuels, individuals using biomass or fossil fuels were at a greater death risk for cancer [HR (95% CI): biomass, 1.13 (1.05-1.20); fossil, 1.16 (1.06-1.25)] and all causes [HR (95% CI): biomass, 1.29 (1.16-1.42); fossil, 1.32 (1.22-1.50)]. Furthermore, compared with sustained users of biomass fuels, individuals converting from biomass to clean fuels significantly reduced death risk for cancer [HR (95% CI): 0.81 (0.72-0.95)] and all causes [HR (95% CI): 0.76 (0.64-0.93)]. Similarly, all-cause death risk [HR (95% CI): 0.77 (0.62-0.93)] was noticeably reduced among these participants converting from fossil to clean fuels than persistent users of fossil fuels. Subgroup analyses revealed that males had a greater cancer and all-cause death risk when exposed to unclean fuels. These findings can inform the development of policies and the implementation of measures related to cooking fuel use to promote the health of older people and reduce the burden of disease on society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Tian
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yulan Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yiran Cui
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Wenyan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jingliang Shuai
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.
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Valarezo A, Dávila L, Bejarano ML, Nolivos I, Molina E, Schlesinger SB, Gould CF, Jack DW. Resilient clean cooking: Maintaining household clean cooking in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INITIATIVE 2023; 74:349-360. [PMID: 37143764 PMCID: PMC10070780 DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2023.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Decades of government subsidies for LPG and electricity have facilitated near-universal clean cooking access and use in Ecuador, placing the nation ahead of most other peer low- and middle-income countries. The widespread socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the resilience of clean cooking systems globally, including by altering households' ability to purchase clean fuels and policymakers' considerations about continuing subsidy programs. As such, assessing the resilience of clean cooking in Ecuador during the pandemic can offer important lessons for the international community, especially other countries looking to ensure resilient transitions to clean cooking. We study household energy use patterns using interviews, newspaper reports, government data on household electricity and LPG consumption, and household surveys [N = 200 across two rounds]. The LPG and electricity distribution systems experienced occasional disruptions to cylinder refill delivery and meter reading processes, respectively, which were associated with pandemic-related mobility restrictions. However, for the most part, supply and distribution activities by private and public companies continued without fundamental change. Survey participants reported increases in unemployment and reductions in household income as well as increased use of polluting biomass as a secondary fuel. Ecuador's LPG and electricity distribution systems were resilient throughout the pandemic, with only minimal interruption of the widespread provision of low-cost clean cooking fuels. Our findings inform the global audience concerned about the resilience of clean household energy use on the potential for clean fuel subsidies to facilitate continued clean cooking even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Valarezo
- Institute for Energy and Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lissete Dávila
- Institute for Energy and Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - M Lorena Bejarano
- Institute for Energy and Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Iván Nolivos
- Institute for Energy and Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Emilio Molina
- Institute for Energy and Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Carlos F Gould
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Darby W Jack
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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Nix E, Betang E, Baame M, Abbott M, Saligari S, Shupler M, Čukić I, Puzzolo E, Pope D, Mbatchou B, Anderson de Cuevas R. Complex dynamics in sustaining clean cooking and food access through a pandemic: A COVID-19 impact study in peri-urban Cameroon. ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INITIATIVE 2022; 71:167-175. [PMID: 36193045 PMCID: PMC9519385 DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2022.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Access to clean energy for cooking is central to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7. Latest predictions suggest that this goal will not be met by 2030, with further setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on household cooking fuel, practices and dietary behaviours in a peri-urban community in Central Cameroon. Using surveys (n = 333) and qualitative semi-structured interviews (n = 12), we found negative financial impacts and high levels of food insecurity, with 83 % and 56 % of households reporting reduced income and insufficient food, respectively. Households reduced food intake and cooking frequency and relied more heavily on local sources (e.g., farmland) to feed their families. Changes in primary cooking fuel were less pronounced and fuel choice was inherently linked to cooking behaviours, with some households utilising LPG more often for simple tasks, such as reheating food. Local systems were key in sustaining food and fuel access and households demonstrated resilience by employing numerous mechanisms to overcome challenges. Our findings underline the vulnerability of households in maintaining sufficient food intake and sustaining clean cooking, highlighting how policy needs to take a nuanced approach considering food-energy dynamics and strengthening local systems to ensure access to clean energy is resistant to system shocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Nix
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Michael Abbott
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Serena Saligari
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Shupler
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Iva Čukić
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Puzzolo
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Global LPG Partnership (GLPGP), New York, United States
| | - Daniel Pope
- Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Rai PK, Sonne C, Song H, Kim KH. The effects of COVID-19 transmission on environmental sustainability and human health: Paving the way to ensure its sustainable management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156039. [PMID: 35595144 PMCID: PMC9113776 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The transmission dynamics and health risks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are inextricably linked to ineract with environment, climate, air pollution, and meteorological conditions. The spread of COVID-19 infection can thus perturb the 'planetary health' and livelihood by exerting impacts on the temporal and spatial variabilities of environmental pollution. Prioritization of COVID-19 by the health-care sector has been posing a serious threat to economic progress while undermining the efforts to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for environmental sustainability. Here, we review the multifaceted effects of COVID-19 with respect to environmental quality, climatic variables, SDGs, energy resilience, and sustainability programs. It is well perceived that COVID-19 may have long-lasting and profound effects on socio-economic systems, food security, livelihoods, and the 'nexus' indicators. To seek for the solution of these problems, consensus can be drawn to establish and ensure a sound health-care system, a sustainable environment, and a circular bioeconomy. A holistic analysis of COVID-19's effects on multiple sectors should help develop nature-based solutions, cleaner technologies, and green economic recovery plans to help maintain environmental sustainability, ecosystem resilience, and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhat Kumar Rai
- Phyto-Technologies and Plant Invasion Lab, Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resources Management, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, India
| | - C Sonne
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - H Song
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Hyun Kim
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present narrative review aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sustainable development goals (SDGS). This information would allow a better comprehension of the actual state of the SDGS and a more efficient programming in future interventions. To achieve the objective of the study, a consensual and critical review was carried out using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages and databases. The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, close the gender gap, protect the planet, and improve the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets out a plan to achieve the goals in 15 years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has been a turning point in the achievement of these goals, due to all its consequences at the political, economic, and socio-cultural levels. This review can be used as a guide for future research and reviews in order to understand the status of each of the SDGs and what actions have been taken and proposed in the aftermath of the pandemic in recent years.
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12
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Ali J, Khan W. Factors affecting access to clean cooking fuel among rural households in India during COVID-19 pandemic. ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INITIATIVE 2022; 67:102-111. [PMID: 35125780 PMCID: PMC8806018 DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper investigates the factors affecting access to clean cooking fuel among rural Indian households during the COVID-19 outbreak, based on World Bank's rural impact survey, covering 2731 rural households. Our analysis shows a significant decline in access to clean fuel among rural households from 35% in 2018 i.e. before COVID-19 to 19.7% during the COVID-19 pandemic. This implies that in order to meet their cooking needs, many rural households have switched from conventional fuels, which have numerous health and environmental concerns. The association between states and socio-demographic profiles of rural households with access to sources of cooking fuel shows a significant difference. The analysis results further indicate that socio-demographic characteristics and asset holdings of the rural households are the key factors that determine access to clean cooking fuel during COVID-19. Among the socio-demographic variables, age, gender, family size, social category, and income level are estimated to be significant factors that affect the access to clean fuel for cooking. Similarly, ownership of assets such as exclusive kitchen room, refrigerator, pressure cooker, television, and furniture are significant factors affecting access to clean cooking fuel among Indian rural households. Additionally, this study provides policy insights on developing mechanisms to ensure that rural households have an access to clean cooking fuel during crisis situations such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jabir Ali
- Economics & Business Environment, Indian Institute of Management, Old University Campus, Jammu 180 016, Jammu and Kashmir, India
| | - Waseem Khan
- Institute of Business Management, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
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13
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Women’s Perceptions and Attitudes to Household Air Pollution Exposure and Capability to Change Cooking Behaviours in Urban Rwanda. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Household air pollution (HAP) from cooking on biomass fuel presents significant health, environmental and socioeconomic consequences worldwide. However, there is a lack of understanding of the factors influencing cooking behaviours that affect HAP exposure in Rwanda (e.g., cooking location, removing children from the cooking area). Sixteen qualitative in-depth interviews were undertaken with women living in an underprivileged neighbourhood in Kigali, Rwanda. Deductive thematic analysis was carried out using the Behaviour Change Wheel (Capability—ability to engage with chosen activity, Opportunity—factors which are beyond the individual’s control and Motivation—brain processes which direct behaviour: COM-B) to determine the thoughts and perceptions around cooking location and removing children from the cooking area. Facilitators and barriers were subsequently identified within the COM-B framework for the following HAP mitigation interventions: outdoor cooking, removing children from the cooking area and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) use. Of the 16 interviewed, 12 cooked outdoors (75%), two (12.5%) cooked indoors (in the main home) and two (12.5%) in a separate kitchen. Despite the majority cooking outdoors, this was reported not to be a favourable cooking location. Levels of awareness of HAP sources and knowledge of the health effects of air pollution were observed to be limited, reducing women’s capability to change, along with stated barriers of cost, housing constraints and safety. Factors out of the individuals’ control (opportunities) included weather, socio-economic and educational factors. Preconceived beliefs, experiencing smoke reduction and the briefly described short-term health effects, directed motivation. Furthermore, participants identified a need for community-based education as a facilitator to changing their behaviour. Despite a high level of observed motivation towards reducing HAP exposure, many women lacked the capability and opportunity to change their behaviour. There are research and policy implications concerning development of community-based interventions which involved end-users and relevant stakeholders in the development process.
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Household Air Pollution and Respiratory Symptoms a Month Before and During the Stringent COVID-19 Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 in South Africa. Ann Glob Health 2022; 88:3. [PMID: 35087703 PMCID: PMC8757382 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Household air pollution (HAP) is associated with adverse human health impacts. During COVID-19 Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 (the most stringent levels), South Africans remained at home, potentially increasing their exposure to HAP. Objectives: To investigate changes in fuel use behaviours/patterns of use affecting HAP exposure and associated HAP-related respiratory health outcomes during COVID-19 Lockdown Levels 5 and 4. Methods: This was a cross-sectional online and telephonic survey of participants from an existing database. Logistic regression and McNemar’s test were used to analyse household-level data. Results: Among 2 505 participants, while electricity was the main energy source for cooking and heating the month before and during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4, some households used less electricity during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 or switched to “dirty fuels.” One third of participants reported presence of environmental tobacco smoke in the home, a source of HAP associated with respiratory illnesses. Prevalence of HAP-related respiratory health outcomes were <10% (except dry cough). Majority of households reported cooking more, cleaning more and spending more time indoors during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 – potentially exposed to HAP. Conclusion: Should South Africa return to Lockdown Levels 5 or 4, awareness raising about the risks associated with HAP as well as messaging information for prevention of exposure to HAP, including environmental tobacco smoke, and associated adverse health impacts will be necessary.
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Saharan US, Kumar R, Tripathy P, Sateesh M, Garg J, Sharma SK, Mandal TK. Drivers of air pollution variability during second wave of COVID-19 in Delhi, India. URBAN CLIMATE 2022; 41:101059. [PMID: 34934612 PMCID: PMC8674516 DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2021.101059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
To curb the 2nd wave of COVID-19 disease in April-May 2021, a night curfew followed by full lockdown was imposed over the National Capital Territory, Delhi. We have analyzed the observed variation in pollutants and meteorology, and role of local and transboundary emission sources during night-curfew and lockdown, as compared to pre-lockdown period and identical periods of 2020 lockdown as well as of 2018 and 2019. In 2021, concentration of pollutants (except O₃, SO₂, and toluene) declined by 4-16% during night-curfew as compared to the pre-lockdown period but these changes are not statistically significant. During lockdown in 2021, various pollutants decreased by 1-28% as compared to the night-curfew (except O₃ and PM₂.₅), but increased by 31-129% compared to the identical period of 2020 lockdown except O₃. Advection of pollutants from the region of moderate lockdown restrictions and an abrupt increase in crop-residue burning activity (120-587%) over Haryana and Punjab increased the air pollution levels over NCT during the lockdown period of 2021 as compared to 2020 in addition to a significant contribution of long-range transport. The increase in PM₂.₅ during the lockdown period of 2021 compared to 2020 might led to 5-29 additional premature mortalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ummed Singh Saharan
- CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road, New Delhi 110012, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Pratyush Tripathy
- Geospatial Lab, Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru 560 080, India
| | - M Sateesh
- National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, Noida 201309, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jyoti Garg
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMAS), New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India
| | - Sudhir Kumar Sharma
- CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road, New Delhi 110012, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tuhin Kumar Mandal
- CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road, New Delhi 110012, India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Ravindra K, Singh T, Vardhan S, Shrivastava A, Singh S, Kumar P, Mor S. COVID-19 pandemic: What can we learn for better air quality and human health? J Infect Public Health 2021; 15:187-198. [PMID: 34979337 PMCID: PMC8642828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 lockdown resulted in improved air quality in many cities across the world. With the objective of what could be the new learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns for better air quality and human health, a critical synthesis of the available evidence concerning air pollution reduction, the population at risk and natural versus anthropogenic emissions was conducted. Can the new societal norms adopted during pandemics, such as the use of face cover, awareness regarding respiratory hand hygiene, and physical distancing, help in reducing disease burden in the future? The use of masks will be more socially acceptable during the high air pollution episodes in lower and middle-income countries, which could help to reduce air pollution exposure. Although post-pandemic, some air pollution reduction strategies may be affected, such as car-pooling and the use of mass transit systems for commuting to avoid exposure to airborne infections like coronavirus. However, promoting non-motorized modes of transportation such as cycling and walking within cities as currently being enabled in Europe and other countries could overshadow such losses. This demand focus on increasing walkability in a town for all ages and populations, including for a differently-abled community. The study highlighted that for better health and sustainability there. is also a need to promote other measures such as work-from-home, technological infrastructure, the extension of smart cities, and the use of information technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Tanbir Singh
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Shikha Vardhan
- Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health, Climate Change & Health, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Aakash Shrivastava
- Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health, Climate Change & Health, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Sujeet Singh
- Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health, Climate Change & Health, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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Woolley KE, Bartington SE, Kabera T, Lao XQ, Pope FD, Greenfield SM, Price MJ, Thomas GN. Comparison of Respiratory Health Impacts Associated with Wood and Charcoal Biomass Fuels: A Population-Based Analysis of 475,000 Children from 30 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179305. [PMID: 34501907 PMCID: PMC8431364 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organisation reported that 45% of global acute respiratory infection (ARI) deaths in children under five years are attributable to household air pollution, which has been recognised to be strongly associated with solid biomass fuel usage in domestic settings. The introduction of legislative restrictions for charcoal production or purchase can result in unintended consequences, such as reversion to more polluting biomass fuels such as wood; which may increase health and environmental harms. However, there remains a paucity of evidence concerning the relative health risks between wood and charcoal. This study compares the risk of respiratory symptoms, ARI, and severe ARI among children aged under five years living in wood and charcoal fuel households across 30 low- and middle-income countries. METHODS Data from children (N = 475,089) residing in wood or charcoal cooking households were extracted from multiple population-based Demographic and Health Survey databases (DHS) (N = 30 countries). Outcome measures were obtained from a maternal report of respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath and fever) occurring in the two weeks prior to the survey date, generating a composite measure of ARI (cough and shortness of breath) and severe ARI (cough, shortness of breath and fever). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were implemented, with adjustment at individual, household, regional and country level for relevant demographic, social, and health-related confounding factors. RESULTS Increased odds ratios of fever (AOR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02-1.12) were observed among children living in wood cooking households compared to the use of charcoal. However, no association was observed with shortness of breath (AOR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.96-1.10), cough (AOR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.95-1.04), ARI (AOR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.96-1.11) or severe ARI (AOR: 1.07; 95% CI: 0.99-1.17). Within rural areas, only shortness of breath was observed to be associated with wood cooking (AOR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01-1.15). However, an increased odds ratio of ARI was observed in Asian (AOR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04-1.51) and East African countries (AOR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01-1.22) only. CONCLUSION Our population-based observational data indicates that in Asia and East Africa there is a greater risk of ARI among children aged under 5 years living in wood compared to charcoal cooking households. These findings have major implications for understanding the existing health impacts of wood-based biomass fuel usage and may be of relevance to settings where charcoal fuel restrictions are under consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E. Woolley
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (K.E.W.); (S.M.G.); (M.J.P.); (G.N.T.)
| | - Suzanne E. Bartington
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (K.E.W.); (S.M.G.); (M.J.P.); (G.N.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Telesphore Kabera
- College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Avenue de l’Armee, Kigali P.O. Box 3900, Rwanda;
| | - Xiang-Qian Lao
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;
| | - Francis D. Pope
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Sheila M. Greenfield
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (K.E.W.); (S.M.G.); (M.J.P.); (G.N.T.)
| | - Malcolm J. Price
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (K.E.W.); (S.M.G.); (M.J.P.); (G.N.T.)
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - G. Neil Thomas
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (K.E.W.); (S.M.G.); (M.J.P.); (G.N.T.)
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Habtewold TM. Impacts of COVID-19 on food security, employment and education: An empirical assessment during the early phase of the pandemic. CLINICAL NUTRITION OPEN SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nutos.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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19
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Bherwani H, Kumar S, Musugu K, Nair M, Gautam S, Gupta A, Ho CH, Anshul A, Kumar R. Assessment and valuation of health impacts of fine particulate matter during COVID-19 lockdown: a comprehensive study of tropical and sub tropical countries. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:44522-44537. [PMID: 33852112 PMCID: PMC8044290 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13813-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to challenge the whole world. The disease has claimed many fatalities as it has transcended from one country to another since it was first discovered in China in late 2019. To prevent further morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19, most of the countries initiated a countrywide lockdown. While physical distancing and lockdowns helped in curbing the spread of this novel coronavirus, it led to massive economic losses for the nations. Positive impacts have been observed due to lockdown in terms of improved air quality of the nations. In the current research, ten tropical and subtropical countries have been analysed from multiple angles, including air pollution, assessment and valuation of health impacts and economic loss of countries during COVID-19 lockdown. Countries include Brazil, India, Iran, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Validated Simplified Aerosol Retrieval Algorithm (SARA) binning model is used on data collated from moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) for particulate matters with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) for all the countries for the month of January to May 2019 and 2020. The concentration results of PM2.5 show that air pollution has drastically reduced in 2020 post lockdown for all countries. The highest average concentration obtained by converting aerosol optical depth (AOD) for 2020 is observed for Thailand as 121.9 μg/m3 and the lowest for Mexico as 36.27 μg/m3. As air pollution is found to decrease in the April and May months of 2020 for nearly all countries, they are compared with respective previous year values for the same duration to calculate the reduced health burden due to lockdown. The present study estimates that cumulative about 100.9 Billion US$ are saved due to reduced air pollution externalities, which are about 25% of the cumulative economic loss of 435.9 Billion US$.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant Bherwani
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002 India
| | - Suman Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020 India
| | - Kavya Musugu
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020 India
| | - Moorthy Nair
- Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), Patna, Bihar 800013 India
| | - Sneha Gautam
- Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641114 India
| | - Ankit Gupta
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002 India
| | - Chang-Hoi Ho
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826 South Korea
| | - Avneesh Anshul
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002 India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002 India
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Stacked: In Their Favour? The Complexities of Fuel Stacking and Cooking Transitions in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Zambia. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en14154457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
It remains unclear whether the decision to cook with both polluting and cleaner-burning fuels (‘fuel stacking’) serves as a transition phase towards the full adoption of clean-cooking practices, or whether stacking allows households to enhance fuel security and choose from a variety of cooking technologies and processes. This paper offers a unique contribution to the debate by positioning fuel stacking as the central research question in the exploration of existing household survey data. This research analyses the World Bank’s Multi-Tier Framework survey data concerning energy access and cooking practices in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Zambia. Its novel approach uses fuel expenditure data to group urban households according to the intensity of biomass consumption (wood, charcoal) relative to modern fuel consumption (electricity, gas). The research explores how different fuel-stacking contexts are associated with factors related to household finances, composition, experiences of electricity, and attitudes towards modern fuels. This study shows the diversity of characteristics and behaviours associated with fuel stacking in urban contexts, thus demonstrating the need for fuel stacking to feature prominently in future data collection activities. The paper ends with five key recommendations for further research into fuel stacking and its role in clean-cooking transitions.
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Ravindra K, Goyal A, Mor S. Does airborne pollen influence COVID-19 outbreak? SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2021; 70:102887. [PMID: 33816082 PMCID: PMC7999829 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.102887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The fast spread of SARS-CoV-2 presented a worldwide challenge to public health, economy, and educational system, affecting wellbeing of human society. With high transmission rates, there are increasing evidences of COVID-19 spread via bioaerosols from an infected person. The current review was conducted to examine airborne pollen impact on COVID-19 transmission and to identify the major gaps for post-pandemic research. The study used all key terms to identify revenant literature and observation were collated for the current research. Based on existing literature, there is a potential association between pollen bioaerosols and COVID-19. There are few studies focusing the impact of airborne pollen on SARS-CoV-2, which could be useful to advance future research. Allergic rhinitis and asthma patients were found to have pre-modified immune activation, which could help to provide protection against COVID-19. However, does airborne pollen acts as a potent carrier for SARS-CoV-2 transport, dispersal and its proliferation still require multidisciplinary research. Further, a clear conclusion cannot be drawn due to limited evidence and hence more research is needed to show how pollen bioaerosols could affect virus survivals. The small but growing literature review focuses on searching for every possible answer to provide additional security layers to overcome near future corona-like infectious diseases.
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Key Words
- AAAAI, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- ACE-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Airborne pollen
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Bioaerosols
- CCDC, Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CESM, Community Earth System Model
- CMAQ, Community Multiscale Air Quality
- COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
- COVID-19
- ERS, European Respiratory Society
- FLI, flu-like illnesses
- GINA, Global Initiative for Asthma
- H1N1, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1
- H5N1, avian influenza virus
- IgE, Immunoglobulin E
- LDT, long-distance transport
- MERS, Middle East respiratory syndrome
- NHC, National Health Commission
- RSV, Respiratory Syncytial Virus infection
- SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2
- STaMPS, Simulator of Timing and Magnitude of Pollen Season
- Virus
- WAO, World Allergy Organisation
- WHO, World Health Organization
- WRF, Weather Research Forecasting
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Akshi Goyal
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
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22
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Ravindra K, Kaur-Sidhu M, Mor S. Transition to clean household energy through an application of integrated model: Ensuring sustainability for better health, climate and environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 775:145657. [PMID: 33621873 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sustained use and adoption of clean cooking fuels have become an important concern for developing countries due to the enormous burden of diseases attributable to household air pollution (HAP). The transition and adoption of clean household energy involve various socio-economic, behavioral, and technological barriers at different community levels. Hence, the present paper aims to scrutinize the factors, key determinants, and other interventions among rural households that limit clean cookstoves' sustained uses. The study proposes an integrated model to enhance clean cooking fuel uptake and uses based on the available evidence. The health, climate and environmental factors were identified as the key to trigger the adoption of clean cooking fuel alternatives. The model comprises the integration of components for targeted clean fuel policy interventions and promotes green recovery. The elements include Knowledge, Housing characteristics, Awareness, Interventions, Willingness to pay, Adoption, Lower emissions and Gender Equality (THE KHAIWAL model) to ascertain the intervention focus regions. Integration of model components in policy implementation will promote clean household energy to reduce emissions, leading to improve quality of life, good health, women empowerment, better air quality and climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India.
| | - Maninder Kaur-Sidhu
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
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23
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Behavior Patterns, Energy Consumption and Comfort during COVID-19 Lockdown Related to Home Features, Socioeconomic Factors and Energy Poverty in Madrid. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13115949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
During spring 2020, the world was shocked at the imminent global spread of SARS-CoV-2, resorting to measures such as domestic confinement. This meant the reconfiguration of life in an unusual space; the home. However, not all households experienced it in the same way; many of them were vulnerable. A general increase in energy consumption and discomfort in many cases, led these families to suffer the ravages of confinement. This study analyzes the energy and comfort situation for the Madrid (Spain) population, according to the configuration of the homes, the characteristics of the dwellings, the vulnerability index by district, and energy poverty (measured with the 10% threshold of energy expenditure of home incomes). The results show a greater exposure, in confinement, of vulnerable and energy-poor households to scenarios of discomfort in the home, to which they could not respond, while energy consumption inevitably increased. Driven by need, energy-poor homes applied certain saving strategies, mainly resorting to thermal adaptation with clothing. This study shows the risk these households experienced in the face of an extreme situation, and invites reflection on preventive and containment measures that aim to avoid harming the disadvantaged in the future; harm that would also entail serious consequences on the health of their cohabitants.
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24
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Ranjbari M, Shams Esfandabadi Z, Zanetti MC, Scagnelli SD, Siebers PO, Aghbashlo M, Peng W, Quatraro F, Tabatabaei M. Three pillars of sustainability in the wake of COVID-19: A systematic review and future research agenda for sustainable development. JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION 2021; 297:126660. [PMID: 34785869 PMCID: PMC8580193 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has immensely impacted the economic, social, and environmental pillars of sustainability in human lives. Due to the scholars' increasing interest in responding to the urgent call for action against the pandemic, the literature of sustainability research considering COVID-19 consequences is very fragmented. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the COVID-19 implications for sustainability practices is still lacking. This research aims to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the triple bottom line (TBL) of sustainability to support the future sustainable development agenda. To achieve that, the following research questions are addressed by conducting a systematic literature review: (i) what is the current status of research on the TBL of sustainability considering COVID-19 implications? (ii) how does COVID-19 affect the TBL of sustainability? and (iii) what are the potential research gaps and future research avenues for sustainable development post COVID-19? The results manifest the major implications of the COVID-19 outbreak for the triple sustainability pillars and the sustainable development agenda from the economic, social, and environmental points of view. The key findings provide inclusive insights for governments, authorities, practitioners, and policy-makers to alleviate the pandemic's negative impacts on sustainable development and to realize the sustainability transition opportunities post COVID-19. Finally, five research directions for sustainable development corresponding to the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) post COVID-19 are provided, as follows: (1) sustainability action plan considering COVID-19 implications: refining sustainability goals and targets and developing measurement framework; (2) making the most of sustainability transition opportunities in the wake of COVID-19: focus on SDG 12 and SDG 9; (3) innovative solutions for economic resilience towards sustainability post COVID-19: focus on SDG 1, SDG 8, and SDG 17; (4) in-depth analysis of the COVID-19 long-term effects on social sustainability: focus on SDG 4, SDG 5, and SDG 10; and (5) expanding quantitative research to harmonize the COVID-19-related sustainability research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisam Ranjbari
- Henan Province Forest Resources Sustainable Development and High-value Utilization Engineering Research Center, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
- Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti de Martiis", University of Turin, Lungo Dora Siena 100 A, 10153, Torino, Italy
| | - Zahra Shams Esfandabadi
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
- Energy Center Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Via Paolo Borsellino 38/16, 10138, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Zanetti
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering (DIATI), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Peer-Olaf Siebers
- School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus, NG8 1BB, Nottingham, UK
| | - Mortaza Aghbashlo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering of Agricultural Machinery, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Wanxi Peng
- Henan Province Forest Resources Sustainable Development and High-value Utilization Engineering Research Center, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Francesco Quatraro
- Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti de Martiis", University of Turin, Lungo Dora Siena 100 A, 10153, Torino, Italy
- BRICK, Collegio Carlo Alberto, Piazza Arbarello 8, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Meisam Tabatabaei
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
- Henan Province Forest Resources Sustainable Development and High-value Utilization Engineering Research Center, School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
- Biofuel Research Team (BRTeam), Terengganu, Malaysia
- Microbial Biotechnology Department, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
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