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Biomass energy, particulate matter (PM2.5), and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Congolese women living near of a cement plant, in Kongo Central Province

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Abstract

This study investigated whether the individual and combined effects of using biomass energy and living in the neighborhood of a cement plant were associated with the risk of COPD and respiratory symptoms among Congolese women. A total of 235 women from two neighborhood communities of a cement plant participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were classified into the more exposed group (MEG = 137) and a less exposed group (LEG = 98), as well as into biomass users (wood = 85, charcoal = 49) or electricity users (101 participants). Participants completed a questionnaire including respiratory symptoms, sociodemographic factors, medical history, lifestyle, and household characteristics. In addition to spirometry performance, outdoor PM2.5 (μg/m3) was measured. Afternoon outdoor PM2.5 concentration was significantly higher in MEG than LEG (48.8 (2.5) μg/m3 vs 42.5 (1.5) μg/m3). Compared to electricity users, wood users (aOR: 2.6, 95%CI 1.7; 5.9) and charcoal users (aOR: 2.9, 95%CI 1.4; 10.7) were at risk of developing airflow obstruction. Combined effects of biomass use and living in the neighborhood of a cement plant increased the risk of COPD in both wood users (aOR: 4, 95%CI 1.3; 12.2) and charcoal users (aOR: 3.1, 95%CI 1.7; 11.4). Exposure to biomass energy is associated with an increased risk of COPD. In addition, combined exposure to biomass and living near a cement plant had additive effects on COPD.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Department of Environmental Medicine of Kochi University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Medicine, Kochi University Kochi Medical School, Oko-cho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan

    Etongola P. Mbelambela, Masamitsu Eitoku, Kahoko Yasumitsu-Lovell, Yuki Shimotake, Atsuko Mori & Narufumi Suganuma

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Sifa M. J. Muchanga

  3. EUCLID UN University (Public International Health), Gambia and Washington, D.C, Washington, DC, USA

    Antonio F. Villanueva

  4. Graduate School of Health Science, Matsumoto University, Matsumoto, Japan

    Ryoji Hirota

  5. Department of Specialties, Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Gedikondele J. Sokolo

Authors
  1. Etongola P. Mbelambela
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  2. Sifa M. J. Muchanga
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  3. Antonio F. Villanueva
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  4. Masamitsu Eitoku
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  5. Kahoko Yasumitsu-Lovell
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  6. Ryoji Hirota
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  7. Yuki Shimotake
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  8. Gedikondele J. Sokolo
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  9. Atsuko Mori
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  10. Narufumi Suganuma
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Contributions

EPM principal investigator and designer of the study, participated in data collection, statistical analysis, wrote and revised the manuscript, and approved the final version of manuscript.

SMM participated in research designing, statistical analysis, approved the final version of manuscript.

AVN participated in study design, wrote the manuscript, drafting and approved the final version of manuscript.

ME participated in study design, data analysis and interpretation, drafting and approved the final version of manuscript.

KY-L participated in statistical analysis, improve the manuscript, approval of the final version of manuscript.

RH participated in research designing, statistical analysis, and approved the final version of manuscript.

YS participated in research designing, approved the final version of manuscript.

GJS participated in research designing, data collection, and approved the final version of manuscript.

AM participated in research designing and approved the final version of manuscript.

NS professor, advisor of research, participated in research designing, statistical analysis, improved and approved the final version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Etongola P. Mbelambela.

Ethics declarations

This study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Ministry of Industries of Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Ethics Committee of Kochi University Medical School, Japan (approval number: 28-87).

After a detailed explanation of the study contents, all participants gave their voluntary written, signed consent before starting the survey.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Mbelambela, E.P., Muchanga, S.M.J., Villanueva, A.F. et al. Biomass energy, particulate matter (PM2.5), and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among Congolese women living near of a cement plant, in Kongo Central Province. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 40706–40714 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10099-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10099-2

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