Household carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in a large African city:An unquantified public health burden?

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels that is linked to mortality and morbidity. Household air pollution from burning fuels on poorly ventilated stoves can lead to high concentrations of CO in homes. There are few datasets available on household concentrations of CO in urban areas of sub-Saharan African countries. CO was measured every minute over 24 h in a sample of homes in Nairobi, Kenya. Data on household characteristics were gathered by questionnaire. Metrics of exposure were summarised and analysis of temporal changes in concentration was performed. Continuous 24-h data were available from 138 homes. The mean (SD), median (IQR) and maximum 24-h CO concentration was 4.9 (6.4), 2.8 (1.0–6.3) and 44 ppm, respectively. 50% of homes had detectable CO concentrations for 847 min (14h07m) or longer during the 24-h period, and 9% of homes would have activated a CO-alarm operating to European specifications. An association between a metric of total CO exposure and self-reported exposure to vapours >15 h per week was identified, however this were not statistically significant after adjustment for the multiple comparisons performed. Mean concentrations were broadly similar in homes from a more affluent area and an informal settlement. A model of typical exposure suggests that cooking is likely to be responsible for approximately 60% of the CO exposure of Nairobi schoolchildren. Household CO concentrations are substantial in Nairobi, Kenya, despite most homes using gas or liquid fuels. Concentrations tend to be highest during the evening, probably associated with periods of cooking. Household air pollution from cooking is the main source of CO exposure of Nairobi schoolchildren. The public health impacts of long-term CO exposure in cities in sub-Saharan Africa may be considerable and should be studied further.

Metadata

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Orina, F. Amukoye, E. Bowyer, C. Chakaya, J. Das, D. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9830-7323 Devereux, G. Dobson, R. Dragosits, U. Gray, C. Kiplimo, R. Lesosky, M. Loh, M. Meme, H. Mortimer, K. Ndombi, A. Pearson, C. Price, H. (hp502@york.ac.uk) Twigg, M. West, S. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2484-8124 Semple, S.
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information:	Funding Information: Funded by UKRI MRC/Kenya National Research Fund (NRF) UK-Kenya Joint Partnership on Non-Communicable Disease programme under the Newton fund MR/S009027/1. Sensitisation activities additionally funded by Wellcome Public Engagement Fund 218935/Z/19/Z. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence (where permitted by UKRI, \u2018Open Government Licence\u2019 or \u2018CC BY-ND public copyright licence may be stated instead) to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising\u2019.The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Sean Semple reports financial support was provided by UKRI Medical Research Council. Sean Semple reports financial support was provided by Kenya National Research Fund. Sean Semple reports financial support was provided by Wellcome Public Engagement Fund. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Funding Information: Funded by UKRI MRC/Kenya National Research Fund (NRF) UK-Kenya Joint Partnership on Non-Communicable Disease programme under the Newton fund MR/S009027/1. Sensitisation activities additionally funded by Wellcome Public Engagement Fund 218935/Z/19/Z. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence (where permitted by UKRI, \u2018Open Government Licence\u2019 or \u2018CC BY-ND public copyright licence may be stated instead) to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising\u2019. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors
Keywords:	Ambient air pollution,Household air pollution,Human exposure
Dates:	Accepted: 24 April 2024 Published (online): 25 April 2024 Published: 15 June 2024
Institution:	The University of York
Academic Units:	The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Biology (York) The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Stockholm Environment Institute at York (York)
Depositing User:	Pure (York)
Date Deposited:	07 May 2024 12:10
Last Modified:	11 Apr 2025 23:32
Published Version:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124054
Status:	Published
Refereed:	Yes
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124054
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID):	oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:212314

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Household carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in a large African city:An unquantified public health burden?

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