Exposure levels and possible health effects of HAP on rural housewives in northwest China

Objective It is crucial to study the possible health effects of household air pollution (HAP). Methods Eligible rural (n = 58) and county women (n = 10) were enrolled in this study as research and control groups to explore the relationship between the HAP and potential health effects on rural women in northwest China. Firstly, a questionnaire on general characteristics of subjects was conducted. Next, in the non-heating (September 2019) and heating seasons (March 2020), the average concentrations of respirable particulate matter 10 (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in living rooms of rural subjects were monitored and health indicators of all subjects were measured. The levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), 1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHP),and producing 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and the activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) of all subjects in urine samples in two seasons were detected. Results The questionnaire results revealed that economic level, house structure, local lifestyle, and seasonal fuel energy type were influence factors relatively high exposure to HAP during the heating season , and all subjects had a certain of self-management of blood pressure. However, there were deficiencies in rural subjects in terms of regular checkups and medication taking. The average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations during the heating season were significantly higher than those in the non-heating season. Meanwhile, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the rural subjects showed significant seasonal changes and SBP was significantly higher than those in the county subjects during the heating season. The 1-OHP, MDA, SOD, and 8-OHdG levels of rural subjects increased significantly in the heating season compared with the non-heating season and county subjects ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Rural women in northwest China were exposed to higher HAP due to lifestyle in heating season, which could cause changes in blood pressure as well as oxidative stress levels. Therefore, it is important to further explore the mechanism on oxidative stress involved in high blood pressure induced by HAP.