Acute differences in blood lipids and inflammatory biomarkers following controlled exposures to cookstove air pollution in the STOVES study

Household air pollution is a leading risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. Numerous cookstoves have been developed to reduce household air pollution, but it is unclear whether such cookstoves meaningfully improve health. In a controlled exposure study with a crossover design, we assessed the effect of pollution emitted from multiple cookstoves on acute differences in blood lipids and inflammatory biomarkers. Participants (n = 48) were assigned to treatment sequences of exposure to air pollution emitted from five cookstoves and a filtered-air control. Blood lipids and inflammatory biomarkers were measured before and 0, 3, and 24 hours after treatments. Many of the measured outcomes had inconsistent results. However, compared to control, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was higher 3 hours after all treatments, and C-reactive protein and serum amyloid-A were higher 24 hours after the highest treatment. Our results suggest that short-term exposure to cookstove air pollution can increase inflammatory biomarkers within 24 hours.

Automated summary

Household air pollution is a significant risk factor for disease and premature death. While many cookstoves have been developed to reduce this pollution, it remains unclear whether they actually improve health. A controlled exposure study found that short-term exposure to cookstove air pollution can increase levels of inflammatory biomarkers within 24 hours.