Relationship between pulmonary function and indoor air pollution from coal combustion among adult residents in an inner-city area of southwest China

Few studies evaluate the amount of particulate matter less than 2.5 mm in diameter (PM(2.5)) in relation to a change in lung function among adults in a population. The aim of this study was to assess the association of coal as a domestic energy source to pulmonary function in an adult population in inner-city areas of Zunyi city in China where coal use is common. In a cross-sectional study of 104 households, pulmonary function measurements were assessed and compared in 110 coal users and 121 non-coal users (≥18 years old) who were all nonsmokers. Several sociodemographic factors were assessed by questionnaire, and ventilatory function measurements including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), the FEV(1)/FVC ratio, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were compared between the 2 groups. The amount of PM(2.5) was also measured in all residences. There was a significant increase in the relative concentration of PM(2.5) in the indoor kitchens and living rooms of the coal-exposed group compared to the non-coal-exposed group. In multivariate analysis, current exposure to coal smoke was associated with a 31.7% decrease in FVC, a 42.0% decrease in FEV(1), a 7.46% decrease in the FEV(1)/FVC ratio, and a 23.1% decrease in PEFR in adult residents. The slope of lung function decrease for Chinese adults is approximately a 2-L decrease in FVC, a 3-L decrease in FEV(1), and an 8 L/s decrease in PEFR per count per minute of PM(2.5) exposure. These results demonstrate the harmful effects of indoor air pollution from coal smoke on the lung function of adult residents and emphasize the need for public health efforts to decrease exposure to coal smoke.