Carbon Monoxide and Respiratory Disorders in Professional Female Fish Smokers at 2 Artisanal Sites in Benin

Introduction: The use of biomass for cooking is a very common practice in Africa and Benin, and is associated with exposure to organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to assess carbon monoxide exposure and respiratory disorders in women at artisanal fish-smoking sites. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of women fish smokers at two artisanal fish-smoking sites in Benin. Recruitment was exhaustive. An interview using a respiratory questionnaire inspired by the Union questionnaire, spirometry and carbon monoxide (CO) measurement were carried out. Descriptive analysis and comparison of means using Student’s t-test with a threshold of p = 0.05 were performed. Results: The median age of the 81 people surveyed was 40, with an interquartile range (IQT) of [25 to 75]. The median duration of daily exposure to smoke was 6 h IQT [4, 7]. Of those surveyed, 64 (79.01%) were illiterate and 39 (48.24%) had been working for 20 years. CO levels at the start of activity varied from 89 to 145 ppm in one case and from 40 to 89 ppm in the other. Respiratory symptoms were present in 19 (23.46%); 18 (22.22%) had mild airway impairment on spirometry. There was a statistically significant decrease between the mean values of peak expiratory flow (PEF), mean expiratory volume in seconds (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) before and after exposure to smoke. Conclusion: CO levels are high on fish smoking sites and respiratory problems are common. Improved working conditions are important for these women.