Carbon Monoxide Pollution and Limited Health Service Access in Third-world Countries
Celine Chong *
Environmental Sciences Division, STEM Science Center, 111 Charlotte Place Ste#100/Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Despite its complexity, carbon monoxide is a key component of indoor and outdoor air pollution. While carbon monoxide arises from natural sources as well as human activities, the most detrimental exposure risks are within the domestic environment. In third-world countries like Guatemala, a notable positive correlation has been observed between severe respiratory diseases and the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. This correlation can be attributed to these regions' housing conditions and daily lifestyle practices. Additionally, the limited healthcare services accessibility in third-world nations exacerbated the severity of domestic carbon monoxide poisoning cases. It is evident that effective healthcare interventions still need to be fully utilized in third-world countries, and thus, there is a need to move beyond identifying broad strategies and specific policies. Addressing the issues of carbon monoxide exposure and its impact on public health in these regions requires comprehensive approaches that take into account the challenges faced by these countries.
To access carbon monoxide concentration in the household, EsayLog USB has been used in this study. The study reviews the amount of carbon monoxide present in certain villages with different conditions and high carbon monoxide concentrations, especially near fires using combustible fuels and houses at high altitudes. The study found that third-world countries' decision-makers should educate communities, build the environment to provide better medical access to the public and implement appropriate regulations to deliver better quality health care to people.
Keywords: Air pollution, domestic environment, daily lifestyle, respiratory diseases, healthcare services accessibility