Carbon monoxide exposure in households in Ciudad Juárez, México

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2008 Mar;211(1-2):40-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2006.12.001. Epub 2007 Mar 2.

Abstract

This study assessed exposure to carbon monoxide from gas and wood heater emissions in a sample of 64 households in peri-urban residential areas in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México. Indoor and outdoor carbon monoxide concentrations and temperatures were monitored for a continuous period of 1 week at 1 and 6-min intervals, respectively. The moving average carbon monoxide concentrations were compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for carbon monoxide. Sixty-seven percent of households with gas heaters and 60% of households with wood heaters exceeded a health-based standard at some point during the monitoring. The difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures was modestly correlated with average carbon monoxide exposure (r=0.35, p-value <0.01). Heater type may be a stronger determinant of exposure, as households with a particular heater model (the El Sol FM-210) were significantly more likely to be among the more highly exposed households (odds ratio of 4.8, p-value of 0.02). A variety of health effects were pooled and found at elevated frequency in the households that exceeded the 8-h standard of 9ppm (odds ratio=5.1, p-value=0.031). These results highlight the need for further efforts to identify and mitigate potentially hazardous carbon monoxide exposures, particularly in moderate-income countries with cooler climates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution, Indoor / adverse effects
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
  • Carbon Monoxide / analysis*
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / prevention & control
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
  • Heating / adverse effects*
  • Heating / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Mexico
  • Risk
  • Ventilation

Substances

  • Carbon Monoxide