Smoke exposure from biomass-based solid fuel may increase tuberculosis prevalence, reveals research

A new study published in the journal of BMC Public Health showed a substantial correlation between tuberculosis (TB) and the polluted physical environment that results from homes utilizing biomass-based solid fuel. Indoor air pollution (IAP) is quickly becoming recognized as a major cause of respiratory sickness or discomfort, particularly in developing countries like China, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to other environmental and socioeconomic variables, indoor air pollution is the primary cause of tuberculosis at 26%. It happens in most developing nations, such as India, where the socioeconomic constraints force people to use biomass-based solid fuels, which have low combustion efficiency and significant pollutant emissions. Thus, this study was set to close the gap and examine the cause-and-effect connection in order to develop practical solutions for reducing it and achieving the goal of having India free of tuberculosis.

The fifth cycle of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019 to 21 database in India, was used for this analysis. The prevalence of TB in homes was assessed using a total of 6 sets of questionnaires. The "Does any member of the family suffer from tuberculosis?" inquiry was used to assist determine which household members had the disease. To examine the relationship between TB and the home environment, binary logistic regression was utilized.

The incidence of tuberculosis among household members was substantially correlated with the use of biomass-based solid fuel for cooking, daily indoor smoking, semi-pucca home style, and tobacco usage, as well as other household environmental variables as determined by adjusted odds ratio.

The findings of this study suggest that exposure to smoke from biomass-based solid fuels raises the risk of developing tuberculosis. As a result, cutting back on cooking fuel smoke might significantly lower the prevalence of tuberculosis. This program shields the environment from the damaging effects of smoking while also relieving a significant portion of the population of smoke-related illnesses and consequences. 

Overall, the study demonstrates that there is a high correlation between tuberculosis and the polluted physical environment that results from homes utilizing biomass-based solid fuel. More research is required to examine the connection between smoke exposure and the clinical manifestations of TB. Furthermore, governmental and non-governmental groups must work together to raise knowledge of the negative consequences of utilizing cooking fuels derived from biomass.

Reference:

Yadav, B. K., Singh, P., Satapathy, P., & Arasu, P. T. (2024). Association between biomass cooking fuels and prevalence of tuberculosis among households: a cross-sectional study from 2019 - 2021 in India. In BMC Public Health (Vol. 24, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20789-y