Biomass smoke exposure as a serious health hazard for women.

INTRODUCTION: Lung diseases caused by biomass exposure cause a significant health hazard particularly amongst women. The present study was designed to investigate biomass exposure in women suffering from lung disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 women [mean (SD) age: 55.13 (17.65) years] hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis or interstitial lung disease were included in this study conducted between September 2008-March 2009 in three chest disease clinics at Sureyyapasa Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital. Data collection on biomass exposure was based on application of hospital-based survey questionnaire including items on occupation, level of education, place of birth (location, region), exposure to biomass fuel fumes for heating and cooking purposes (animal dung, wood, charcoal, dried plant) and years of exposure with animal dung, wood, charcoal, dried plant. RESULTS: COPD in 22% patients, lung carcinoma in 12%, bronchitis in 8%, tuberculosis in 26%, and interstitial lung disease in 17% were the diagnosis for hospitalization. The most identified occupation was housewifery 86%. Active, former and non-smokers composed 6%, 22% and 72% of the population. Birth place was village in 67% patients while districts in 9%. According to regional distribution, the most common place of birth was Central Anatolia region in (29%). Exposure to biomass fuels was identified in all of patients including wood (92%), animal dung (30%), charcoal (23%), and dry plant (23%). Mean (SD) years of exposure was identified to be 52.6 (17.9) years for wood, 40.8 (17.9) years for animal dung, 48.1 (20.8) years for dry plant and 38.5 (21.4) years for charcoal. The most common type of biomass exposure was wood in village (97%), city (79%) and county (89%). CONCLUSION: Findings indicating impact of biomass exposure in women seem to emphasize the need for analytic epidemiologic studies assessment measuring biomass exposure levels-particularly for women and young children.