Household Air Pollution and Respiratory Symptoms a Month Before and During the Stringent COVID-19 Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 in South Africa

Abstract

Background: Household air pollution (HAP) is associated with adverse human health impacts. During COVID-19 Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 (the most stringent levels), South Africans remained at home, potentially increasing their exposure to HAP. Objectives:To investigate changes in fuel use behaviours/patterns of use affecting HAP exposure and associated HAP-related respiratory health outcomes during COVID-19 Lockdown Levels 5 and 4.Methods: This was a cross-sectional online and telephonic survey of participants from an existing database. Logistic regression and McNemar's test were used to analyse household-level data.Results: Among 2 505 participants, while electricity was the main energy source for cooking and heating the month before and during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4, some households used less electricity during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 or switched to "dirty fuels." One third of participants reported presence of environmental tobacco smoke in the home, a source of HAP associated with respiratory illnesses. Prevalence of HAP-related respiratory health outcomes were <10% (except dry cough). Majority of households reported cooking more, cleaning more and spending more time indoors during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4 -potentially exposed to HAP. Conclusion:Should South Africa return to Lockdown Levels 5 or 4, awareness raising about the risks associated with HAP as well as messaging information for prevention of exposure to HAP, including environmental tobacco smoke, and associated adverse health impacts will be necessary.

Pollution from cooking in rural and poor urban households of Africa: A methodological review

“…Dherani et al (2022) found that exposure to higher concentrations of PM 2.5 from cooking-derived smoke pollution is associated with an increased prevalence of pneumonia infection in young children. Wright et al (2022) reported on increased exposure to HAP and respiratory illness during COVID-19 lockdown levels 5 and 4 in South Africa as people switched to 'dirty fuels'. Nuhu, Bukari and Banye (2022) revealed that LPG, followed by charcoal-improved cookstoves (ICS), offers major health benefits.…”

Household air pollution and respiratory symptoms a month before and during the stringent COVID-19 lockdown levels 5 and 4 in South Africa

“…With people spending majority of their time in their dwellings, their exposure to household air pollution (HAP) became reason for concern; especially among people who rely on so-called 'dirty fuels' as their main source of energy for cooking and / or heating. A recently published study by Wright et al (2022) conducted a retrospective online / telephonic survey to investigate fuel use behaviours / patterns of use affecting HAP exposure and associated HAP-related respiratory health outcomes a month before and during Lockdown Levels 5 and 4, i.e., the two most stringent levels. Participants were drawn from an existing market research company panel (since field campaigns were not possible) from Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape where COVID-19 cases were highest at the time of study planning.…”