Biomass use and its health effects among the vulnerable and marginalized refugee families in the Gaza Strip

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Maher Elbayoumi¹  Ahmed Hassan Albelbeisi² 

[1] Energy and Sustainable Environment Center, School of Engineering, Israa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine;Medical Services Directorate, Gaza Strip, Palestine;College of Health Professions, Israa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine;

关键词: solid fuel;    indoor air pollution;    health;    choice determinants;    environmental sustainability;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1129985

 received in 2022-12-22, accepted in 2023-03-15,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionBiomass fuel remains the most common type of fuel used in many developing countries, leading to indoor air pollution and serious health impacts.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compile evidence on the impact household fuel combustion has on child and adult health, with an emphasis on solid fuel use in Gaza.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 110 structured self-administered questionnaires were distributed in April 2019 among families living in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp.ResultsParticipants reported that the main fuel used were wood, coal, cardboard, and a mix of wood, cardboard, and plastic, which were used for cooking, heating, baking, boiling water, and lighting. The most common symptoms were nasal irritation (71.8%), followed by headache (66.4%) and dizziness (65.4%). The results of logistic regression showed that the participants who used wood fuel had a higher chance of feeling eye irritation than those who used a mix of wood, cardboard, and dried grass (OR = 1.316; 95% CI = 1.54–8.99). The participants who opened windows during the burning process of biomass fuel were five times more likely to develop pneumonia than those who closed windows (OR = 5.53; 95%CI = 11.60–19.0).Conclusionthere is an urgent need for community awareness campaigns designed to inform people about the risks of exposure to biomass fuel smoke and how to better implement household ventilation.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Elbayoumi and Albelbeisi.