Indoor exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in traditional houses in Burundi |
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Authors: | C Viau G Hakizimana M Bouchard |
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Institution: | (1) Département de médecine du travail et d'hygiène du milieu, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada e-mail: claude.viau@umontreal.ca Fax +1-514-3432200, CA;(2) Groupe de recherche en toxicologie humaine and Département de médecine du travail et d'hygiène du milieu, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada, CA |
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Abstract: | Objectives: Wood combustion is used as a major energy source in African countries and could result in indoor, pollution-related health
problems. This exploratory study was undertaken to estimate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and carbon monoxide exposure
in individuals living in traditional rural houses in Burundi. Methods: Standard methods were used to determine indoor air concentrations of 12 PAHs, and carbon monoxide. The urinary excretion
of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was measured in occupants of traditional houses, and compared with that of individuals living in
the town of Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Results: Mean airborne concentration of four volatile PAHs, naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene and acenaphthene, exceeded 1 μg/m3, and that of benzo(a)pyrene was 0.07 μg/m3. Naphthalene was by far the main PAH contaminant, with a mean concentration (±standard deviation) of 28.7 ± 23.4 μg/m3, representing on average 60–70% of total PAH concentration. Carbon monoxide mean concentration (±standard deviation) was
42 ± 31 mg/m3, and correlated with total PAH concentration. Geometric mean urinary 1-OHP excretion (range) in people living in traditional
houses was 1.50 (0.26–15.62) μmol/mol creatinine, a value which is on average 30 times higher than that of people living in
the capital (0.05 (0.009–0.17) μmol/mol creatinine). Conclusions: It appears that the substantially high concentrations of the studied contaminants constitute a potential health hazard to
the rural population of Burundi.
Received: 15 July 1999 / Accepted: 20 November 1999 |
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Keywords: | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Indoor air pollution Environmental exposure Biological monitoring |
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