Table 3 Studies assessing the health effects of indoor air pollution in Sri Lanka
From: Air pollution and health in Sri Lanka: a review of epidemiologic studies
Reference, Study Location and data collection period | Study Design Subject Characteristics and sample size | Exposure air pollutants | Health outcomes | Results | Adjustment for confounding factors | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cross sectional studies | ||||||
Karunasekara KAW et al.[40], Gampaha district. 1998 | Children, 5-11 years, asthmatics (n = 441); non asthmatics (n = 1510) | No specific types are measured | Asthma | Prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in the presence of firewood smoke | Yes | No measurement of exposure |
Lankatilake KN et al.[20], Kotte Medical Officer of Health area. 1999 | Households = 397 children = 604 women = 130 | Respirable dust | Respiratory symptoms | Respiratory symptoms were significantly higher in houses using firewood | Yes | Only respirable dust levels were measured |
Pathirane S M et al.[43]Kegalle and Kalutara districts. 2004 | New borns (n = 369) | No specific types | Low birth weight | Low birth weight was associated with fuel type and kitchen characteristics | No | No measurement of exposure |
Case-control Studies | ||||||
Karunasekara KAW et al.[39], Colombo North Teaching Hospital 1996-1997 | Children 1-10 years, age matched cases and controls (n = 300) | No specific type | Asthma | Dust at home was a significant risk factor for asthma | Yes | No measurement of exposure |
Perera MAKK P et al.[42], National Cancer Hospital 2004 | Lung cancer patients (n = 128) and controls (n = 128) | No specific type | Lung cancer | No significant association with biomass exposure | No | No measurement of exposure |
Ranasinghe MH et al.[41], National Eye Hospital, Colombo 2004 | Patients with cataracts (n = 197) and controls (n = 190) | No specific type | Cataract | Cataracts significantly associated with biomass exposure | No | No measurement of exposure |