Over half the world’s population is exposed daily to very high levels of household air pollutants arising from burning biomass fuels; however the effects of these pollutants on cardiovascular health have not been fully established. This study aimed to compare the relationship between household indoor and outdoor air pollution with cardiovascular health in biomass and non-biomass exposed group. To compare the relationship between household indoor and outdoor air pollution with cardiovascular health in biomass and non-biomass exposed group. This cross-sectional study compared parameters of cardiovascular health in populations exposed to household indoor pollutants from biomass burning and non-biomass respectively among adults in Nepal. Data using an interviewer administered questionnaire including chest pain, blood pressure measurements and real-time measurements of household and ambient airborne particulate (PM2.5) concentrations were collected. Rural dwellers cooking with biomass fuels reported significantly more chest pain on exertion compared with non-biomass fuel users. 24-hour direct PM2.5 and CO measurements were not associated with changes in blood pressure as was the case for other measures of airborne particulate exposure except outdoor PM2.5 with men in non-biomass using households. Ambient temperature and seasonality was negatively associated with increase in blood pressure. The prevalence of both systolic (21% vs. 6%, p<0.001) and diastolic (32% vs. 7%, p<0.001) hypertension was higher amongst non-biomass fuel users compared with biomass users. There was no association between 24-hour real-time airborne pollutants data from biomass smoke and cardiovascular health effects but significantly more chest pain on exertion was found in those exposed to smoke from biomass fuel burning. Urban dwellers in Nepal were found to have higher blood pressure compared to rural dwellers, which was associated with their higher BMI levels and seasonality.
Air Pollution, Indoor ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Blood Pressure ; Hypertension ; Risk ; Nepal

Background:Nepal has a long history of labour migration over the years.Migrants can experience a range of problems in their destination countries,and women are more at risk than men.This paper is the first to explore the problems faced by Nepalese women migrants while working abroad. Methods:This study was conducted among 1,889 women who were registered as migrant returnees at an organi-sation called Pourakhi Nepal.The study extracted and analysed data from a non-governmental organisation that supports returning female migrant workers in Nepal. Results:Around half(43.1％)of the women were 35 or older,30.9％were illiterate,and 63.6％were in their first overseas job.More than one-third(38.5％)had self-reported workplace harassment.Physical violence was the most prevalent(68％),followed by verbal abuse(37.5％),mental stress(29.7％),and sexual abuse(14.1％).Women who were illiterate(adjusted odds ratio[AOR]1.25,95％confidence interval[Cl]:1.01 to 1.55),unmarried(AOR 1.27,95％CI:1.05 to 1.56),worked abroad twice or more(AOR 1.35,95％CI:1.10 to 1.66),changed their place of work(AOR 2.38,95％CI:1.42 to 4.01),lived without documents(AOR 1.24,95％CI:1.03 to 1.50),worked as domestics(AOR 3.56,95％CI:2.03 to 6.23),worked in other than Gulf Cooperation Council countries(AOR 1.45,95％CI:1.06 to 1.99),women who did not have a fixed salary(AOR 1.64,95％CI:1.28 to 2.10)and did not receive salary(AOR 3.71,95％CI:2.88 to 4.77)were more likely to be harassed at work. Conclusion:Our findings suggest that the host governments should introduce and enforce policies protecting women in the workplace.Migrant women should be provided with better information about health risks and hazards as well as how to improve preventive measures in destination countries to reduce workplace harassment.