Child Lung Function Study

July 9, 2021 | Ongoing Project | Reading time: 6 min

Start Date:16-04-2018
End Date: 15-06-2023
Funders:National Institute of Health , Columbia University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Boston University

A recent systematic assessment found that HAP causes 3.5 million premature deaths; women and children are most affected. However, there is evidence to suggest that improvement in indoor air quality using chimney woodstoves and biogas stoves is associated with 1) reduced respiratory symptoms and 2) reduction in the annual decline in lung function. Therefore, greater reductions in HAP by cleaner fuels such as LPG may have substantial health impacts.

The hypothesis being tested is that use of LPG over a 16-month period during the Ghana Randomized Air Pollution and Health Study (GRAPHS) will result in 1) Significant reduction in the incidence of respiratory symptoms and 2) Significant reduction in the annual decline in lung function (measured by pre- and post-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in 1second (FEV1).