Indoor air pollution from solid fuel and tuberculosis

Lin, H.H., Suk, C.W., Lo, H.L., Huang, R.Y., Enarson, D.A. and Chiang, C.Y., 2014. Indoor air pollution from solid fuel and tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The International journal of tuberculosis and lung disease, 18(5), pp.613-621.

Low Evidence for TB Link: The association between the use of solid fuels in households and tuberculosis (TB) is supported by very low levels of evidence.

Health Risks from Toxic Pollutants: Burning solid fuels can be hazardous, particularly when stoves are inefficient and ventilation is poor, leading to health issues such as acute lower respiratory infections in children under five, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.

Factors Affecting Pollutant Levels: The concentration of pollutants from burning solid fuels varies based on the stove type, burning location, and ventilation at the site. These factors help in quantifying pollutant concentrations.

Need for More Research: High-quality studies are required to better understand the relationship between domestic use of solid fuels and TB and to assess the scope of the issue.

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Lai, T.C., Chiang, C.Y., Wu, C.F., Yang, S.L., Liu, D.P., Chan, C.C. and Lin, H.H., 2016. Ambient air pollution and risk of tuberculosis: a cohort study. Occupational and environmental medicine, 73(1), pp.56-61.

Respirable risk factors such as active and passive smoking, and indoor air pollution from biomass, potentially impair airway defense mechanisms, increasing TB risk.

High levels of ambient air pollution in developing countries correlate with continued high tuberculosis rates, necessitating further investigation into its impact on global TB control.

Fine particles and traffic-related pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide are linked to a higher risk of active tuberculosis.

Laboratory and ecological studies suggest a positive association between ambient air pollution and TB incidence.

The true relationship between ambient air pollution and TB might be underestimated due to potential residual confounding by area-level socioeconomic factors.

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Lin, H.H., Murray, M., Cohen, T., Colijn, C. and Ezzati, M., 2008. Effects of smoking and solid-fuel use on COPD, lung cancer, and tuberculosis in China: a time-based, multiple risk factor, modelling study. The Lancet, 372(9648), pp.1473-1483.

Tobacco smoking and indoor air pollution from solid-fuel use are primary global risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

These factors significantly contribute to mortality from these diseases in developing countries.

Smoking is an independent risk factor for tuberculosis, exacerbating the spread and severity of the disease.

Implementing moderate to complete reductions in smoking and solid-fuel use through tobacco taxation, advertising bans, and fuel pricing could decrease deaths from COPD and lung cancer.

Reduction in these risk factors would also significantly decrease tuberculosis incidence by minimizing the duration of infectiousness through effective treatment.

These diseases pose substantial economic burdens, particularly in developing countries, due to healthcare costs, reduced labor market participation, and hindered human capital accumulation.

The burden is disproportionately higher in low-income or marginalized communities.

Programs targeting low-income communities could offer cleaner fuels or stoves, nutritional supplements, and tuberculosis testing coupled with treatment adherence incentives.

Tobacco cessation initiatives could be integrated into tuberculosis treatment programs, possibly supported by financial incentives.

Revenue from tobacco taxes could subsidize Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS), clean energy technologies, and nutrition programs for participating low-income households.