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Despite significant investment, childhood malnutrition continues to be a significant public health problem especially in least developed countries. The aim of this study was to find association between household biomass fuel (BMF) use and childhood malnutrition in Bangladesh using data from Demographic and Health Survey 2011. We included a total 6891 children under 5 years of age in the analysis. The prevalence of wasting, underweight, and stunting from BMF using household was 16.1% (n = 997; 95%CI, 15.1–17.3), 39.0% (n = 2399; 95%CI, 37.1–40.9), and 43.3% (n = 2620; 95%CI, 41.6–45.1), respectively. Underweight and stunting were significantly higher among children from households using BMF compared with the children from CF using households (underweight, biomass vs clean fuel: 39.0% vs. 23.5%, p < 0.001; stunting, biomass vs clean fuel: 43.3 vs. 31.5%, p < 0.001). The use of BMF in the household was significantly associated with underweight (OR = 1.38; 95%CI: 1.10–1.73) and stunting (OR = 1.58; 95%CI: 1.18–1.98) among children <5 years of age after adjusting possible confounders in mixed effect logistic regression analysis. This study found a significant association between chronic childhood malnutrition and household BMF use which is indicating possible alternative risk factor for malnutrition. Further prospective research is required to explore the mechanism of how BMF use results in chronic malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory diseases' mortality and morbidity have been a major public health burden primarily attributed to widespread exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants in the environment. The study conducted among 510 Bangladeshi women residing in the northeastern zone of the Sylhet division from semi-urban and rural settings to compare the biomass fuel users (N = 255) with the non-biomass users (N = 255). It has been observed that all the symptoms had a higher prevalence among the women who were exposed to biomass fuel compared with those exposed to clean gas fuel. Women exposed to biomass group reported frequent cough and phlegm production episodes during a 3-month timeline before the survey period which was found statistically higher (p < 0.001) compared with that of the clean gas fuel group. Moreover, the use of biomass fuel has been associated with a significant decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Appropriate strategies from stakeholders and government authorities in disseminating health hazards from biomass fuel along with supporting the community by providing alternative energy sources for cooking can largely impact people's lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of biomass fuel in traditional cooking stoves (TCS) is a long-established practice that has incomplete combustion and generates substances with global warming potential (GWP). Improved cooking stoves (ICS) have been developed worldwide as an alternative household fuel burning device, as well as a climate change mitigation. A study was conducted among female Forest User Groups (FUGs) of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh, to assess the status of ICS disseminated by the Forest Department (FD) under the Nishorgo (2009) Support Project, along with the community's biomass fuel consumption pattern. Wood consumption was highest (345 kg month-1 household-1) followed by agricultural residues (60 kg month-1 household-1), tree leaves (51 kg month-1 household-1) and cow dung (25 kg month-1 household-1). Neighbouring forests of the sanctuary was the core source for wood fuel, with little or no reduction in the extraction even after joining the FUG. Twenty-two species, both indigenous and introduced, were preferred as wood fuel. None of the respondents were found willing to use ICS although 43% owned one; either as a status symbol or to meet the conditions of the FD for membership in FUG. Seven negative features of the disseminated ICS were identified by households, which made them unwilling to use them further. Manufacturing faults may be responsible for some ICS demerits, while the FD failed to convince the community of the benefits. A proper examination of the disseminated ICS efficacy is crucial, with active involvement of community members. The Sustainable Energy Triangle Strategy (SETS) could be implemented for this purpose. Findings of the study are of immense importance in designing a strategy for the introduction of ICS into Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household air pollution (HAP) arising from combustion of biomass fuel (BMF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income countries. Air pollution may stimulate pro-inflammatory responses by activating diverse immune cells and cyto/chemokine expression, thereby contributing to diseases. We aimed to study cellular immune responses among women chronically exposed to HAP through use of BMF for domestic cooking. Among 200 healthy, non-smoking women in rural Bangladesh, we assessed exposure to HAP by measuring particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5), black carbon (BC) and carbon monoxide (CO), through use of personal monitors RTI MicroPEM™ and Lascar CO logger respectively, for 48 h. Blood samples were collected following HAP exposure assessment and were analyzed for immunoprofiling by flow cytometry, plasma IgE by immunoassay analyzer and cyto/chemokine response from monocyte-derived-macrophages (MDM) and -dendritic cells (MDDC) by multiplex immunoassay. In multivariate linear regression model, a doubling of PM 2.5 was associated with small increments in immature/early B cells (CD19+CD38+) and plasmablasts (CD19+CD38+CD27+). In contrast, a doubling of CO was associated with 1.20% reduction in CD19+ B lymphocytes (95% confidence interval (CI) = -2.36, −0.01). A doubling of PM 2.5 and BC each was associated with 3.12% (95%CI = −5.85, −0.38) and 4.07% (95%CI = −7.96, −0.17) decrements in memory B cells (CD19+CD27+), respectively. Exposure to CO was associated with increased plasma IgE levels (beta(β) = 240.4, 95%CI = 3.06, 477.8). PM 2.5 and CO exposure was associated with increased MDM production of CXCL10 (β = 12287, 95%CI = 1038, 23536) and CCL5 (β = 835.7, 95%CI = 95.5, 1576), respectively. Conversely, BC exposure was associated with reduction in MDDC-produced CCL5 (β = −3583, 95%CI = −6358, −807.8) and TNF-α (β = −15521, 95%CI = −28968, −2074). Our findings suggest that chronic HAP exposure through BMF use adversely affects proportions of B lymphocytes, particularly memory B cells, plasma IgE levels and functions of antigen presenting cells in rural women. [Display omitted] • Household air pollution adversely affected B cells subtypes in systemic circulation. • Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure was associated with increased IgE levels in plasma. • PM 2.5 and CO exposure enhanced chemokine (CXCL10 and CCL5) secretion by macrophages. • Black carbon reduced secretion of chemokines (CCL5 and TNF-α) by dendritic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Consumer''s preference and consumption pattern of biomass fuel, fuel types and energy use category has been studied in the disregarded villages of Bangladesh. The study was conducted both in the inland and island areas. Biomass energy in the study area was used in domestic cooking, tea stalls, brickfields, bakeries, paddy parboiling and pottery. Assessment of consumption in domestic cooking was done by means of multistage random sampling and that in the tea stalls, brickfields, bakeries, paddy parboiling and pottery by means of complete enumeration of the sampling unit. Based on the homestead size respondents were categorized into small, medium and large and a total of 60 homesteads (30 from inland and another 30 from island areas), 20 from each category were selected randomly for the study. The study revealed that natural gas was quite absent and stems, branches and twigs, leaves of trees, agricultural residues, shell and coir of coconut, saw dust, brush wood, rhizomes of bamboo, and cowdung were the biomass fuel used by the respondent. Nine fuelwood species were identified as the most preferred in the study area. Consumption pattern was mostly traditional. Each year preceding the rainy season cyclonic action damages a large quantity of biomass energy sources. Though at the initial stage of rainy season (April–May) there remain a more or less good collection of fuelwood to the user as the byproduct of cyclones and storms, the last part of the rainy season (July–August) was identified as the fuel shortage period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An exploratory survey was carried out to assess biomass fuel use by the rural households in the Chittagong region, Bangladesh. A multistage random sampling technique was adopted to perform the study. Based on the monthly income, respondents were categorized into rich, medium and poor and a total of 45 homesteads, 15 from each category were selected randomly for the study. The study revealed that stems, branches, leaves of trees and agricultural residues were the biomass fuel used by the respondents. Market, homestead, agricultural field, secondary forests/plantation were the sources of biomass fuel identified. Male and female were identified as the major collectors of fuelwood from the nearby forests/plantations and homesteads, respectively. Six fuelwood species were identified as the most preferred in the study area. The study identified the rainy season as the woodfuel shortage period spanning between May and August. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Exposure to biomass fuel smoke has detrimental health effects causing chronic diseases. This study investigated the relationship between biomass fuel smoke exposure and hypertension among the rural Bangladeshi women. A total of 410 women aged 19-60 years were enrolled in this study during April-May 2017 who regularly cooked with biomass fuel in traditional cook stove for the past ≥1 year. Self-reported daily cooking hours and lifetime cooking experience of the participants were recorded, and their blood pressure was measured. Participants' age ≥40 years, parental history of hypertension, body mass index ≥25 kg/m 2 , and cumulative exposure to biomass smoke were found to be the significant risk factors of hypertension. Every 1 year increase in cumulative exposure to biomass smoke eventually exacerbated the risk of hypertension by 61% (adjusted odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-2.22; P < 0.01). This study provides evidence that long-term exposure to biomass fuel smoke is associated with hypertension., Competing Interests: None