Household air pollution (HAP) resulting from the use of solid fuels (e.g., wood, coal, crop waste, and dung) for cooking and heating contributes to a significant proportion of the global burden of disease. Multiple diseases have been associated with HAP, including low birthweight in infants, pneumonia in children, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults.

The Cardiopulmonary and Household Air Pollution (CHAP) trials are testing the efficacy and effectiveness of liquefied-propane petroleum gas (LPG) stove use and fuel distribution interventions compared to standard cooking practices with open-fire biomass-burning stoves, and to determine if provision of cleaner fuels will result in important reductions of household air pollution and consequently an improvement in cardiovascular and pulmonary health outcomes. Participants in the intervention arm will receive LPG stove and fuel during the one-year intervention period, and participants in the control arm will receive LPG stove and coupons to cover a one-year worth supply of fuel at the end of the intervention period. Participants will then be followed for an additional year to determine patterns of sustained use (intervention arm) and initial adoption (control arm).

 

PI Mentor: William Checkley