Conducting The First Randomized Control Trial of Acute Lower Respiratory Infections and Indoor Air Pollution: Description of Process and Methods

Epidemiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl) ◽  
pp. S44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk R. Smith ◽  
Nigel Bruce ◽  
Byron Arana ◽  
Alisa Jenny ◽  
Asheena Khalakdina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Randomized Control Trial ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Acute Lower Respiratory Infections ◽  
Randomized Control

A Behavioral Intervention to Reduce Child Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution: Identifying Possible Target Behaviors

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendon R. Barnes ◽  
Angela Mathee ◽  
Lonna B. Shafritz ◽  
Laurie Krieger ◽  
Susan Zimicki
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Child Exposure ◽  
Target Behaviors ◽  
Acute Lower Respiratory Infections ◽  
Study Context

Indoor air pollution has been causally linked to acute lower respiratory infections in children younger than 5. The aim of this study was to identify target behaviors for a behavioral intervention to reduce child exposure to indoor air pollution by attempting to answer two research questions: Which behaviors are protective of child respiratory health in the study context? and Which behaviors do mothers recommend to reduce their children’s exposure to indoor air pollution? Observations and interviews were conducted with 67 mother-child combinations. The authors recommend that four behavioral clusters should be considered for the main intervention. These are to improve stove maintenance practices, to increase the duration that two ventilation sources are opened while a fire is burning, to reduce the time that children spend close to burning fires, and to reduce the duration of solid fuel burning.

scholarly journals Household energy, indoor air pollution and child respiratory health in South Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendon Barnes ◽  
Angela Mathee ◽  
Elizabeth Thomas ◽  
Nigel Bruce
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Household Energy ◽  
Acute Lower Respiratory Infections ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Pollution Concentrations

Indoor air pollution due to the indoor burning of polluting fuels has been associated with Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) amongst children less than five years old. This paper reviews evidence of the association between household energy, indoor air pollution and child ALRI in South Africa. Studies show evidence consistent with the international literature with the likelihood of ALRI between 2 and 4 amongst children living in households using polluting fuels compared to households using electricity. Indoor air pollution is responsible for the deaths of up to 1 400 children annually. Interven-tions have demonstrated 46 – 97% lower pollution concentrations compared to open fires. However, the sustainability of selected interventions has been questioned in certain contexts. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence and highlights opportunities for further research.

Bioactive Nano-Filters to Control Legionella on Indoor Air

2012 ◽  
Vol 506 ◽  
pp. 23-26
Author(s):  
P.A.F. Rodrigues ◽  
S.I.V. Sousa ◽  
Maria José Geraldes ◽  
M.C.M. Alvim-Ferraz ◽  
F.G. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Public Health Issue

Several factors affect the indoor air quality, among which ventilation, human occupancy, cleaning products, equipment and material; they might induce the presence of aerosols (or bioaerosols in the presence of biological components) nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide and dioxide, volatile organic compounds, radon and microorganisms. Microbiological pollution involves hundreds of bacteria and fungi species that grow indoors under specific conditions of temperature and humidity. Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with allergies, asthma, immune responses and respiratory infections, such as Legionnaires Disease and Pontiac Feaver, which are due to contamination byLegionella pneumophila. Legionnaire's Disease has increased over the past decade, because of the use of central air conditioning. In places such as homes, kindergartens, nursing homes and hospitals, indoor air pollution affects population groups that are particularly vulnerable because of their health status or age, making indoor air pollution a public health issue of high importance. Therefore, the implementation of preventive measures, as the application of air filters, is fundamental. Currently, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are the most used to capture microorganisms in ventilation, filtration and air conditioning systems; nevertheless, as they are not completely secure, new filters should be developed. This work aims to present how the efficiency of a textile nanostructure in a non-woven material based on synthetic textiles (high hydrophobic fibers) incorporating appropriate biocides to controlLegionella pneumophila, is going to be measured. These bioactive structures, to be used in ventilation systems, as well as in respiratory protective equipment, will reduce the growth of microorganisms in the air through bactericidal or bacteriostatic action. The filter nanostructure should have good air permeability, since it has to guarantee minimum flows of fresh air for air exchange as well as acceptable indoor air quality.

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