Title: Environmental risk factors and prevalence of asthma, tuberculosis and jaundice in India

Authors: P. Arokiasamy, K. Karthick, J. Pradhan

Addresses: International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, India. ' International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, India. ' International Institute for Population Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai, India

Abstract: Environmental risk factors and their health effects in developing countries account for a major share of global burden of disease. This paper assesses the health risk of population exposed to biomass fuel, smoking and chewing tobacco, and unsafe water by linking their reported morbidities of asthma, tuberculosis, and jaundice. The data from India|s National Family Health Survey-2 (NFHS, 1998–99) are used, for the two selected states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, India. Results indicate that exposure to cooking smoke increase the risk of asthma and tuberculosis. Smoking and chewing tobacco raise the risk of asthma and tuberculosis, and use of unsafe water and living in unhygienic conditions increases the risk of jaundice. Biomass fuel effects on risks of asthma and smoking and chewing tobacco effects on risk of tuberculosis are greater in urban Maharashtra. However, smoking and tobacco chewing effects on risks of tuberculosis are higher in rural Madhya Pradesh.

Keywords: environment; health impact; India; morbidities; risk factors; environmental risk; asthma; tuberculosis; jaundice; developing countries; biomass fuel; cigarette smoking; chewing tobacco; cooking smoke; unsafe water; health risks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2007.014633

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2007 Vol.1 No.2, pp.221 - 242

Published online: 21 Jul 2007 *

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