Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objectives
This systematic review presents a synthesis of the evidence on the health risks associated with producing and using charcoal across the world.Design
Systematic review using a systematic narrative synthesis approach.Data sources
MEDLINE (through Ovid interface), CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and SCOPUS, from inception to 26 February 2021.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies
Peer-reviewed journal articles reporting empirical findings on the associations between charcoal usage/production and health parameters.Data extraction and synthesis
Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of primary studies.Results
Our findings showed that charcoal production and usage are linked with specific adverse health outcomes, including respiratory diseases (n=21), cardiorespiratory and neurological diseases (n=1), cancer (n=3), DNA damage (n=3), carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (n=2), physical injury (n=2), sick house syndrome (n=1), unintentional weight loss and body mass index (BMI) reduction (n=2), increase in blood pressure (n=1) and CO death (n=1). Among the included articles that reported respiratory diseases (n=21), there was one case of asthma and tuberculosis and two cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Conclusions
This review links charcoal production/usage and some associated human health risks. These include respiratory diseases and other non-respiratory illnesses such as sick-building syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, DNA damage, CO poisoning and death, unintentional weight loss and BMI reduction, and physical injuries.
SUBMITTER: Idowu OS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10373722 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Idowu Oladipo S OS De Azevedo Liane Beretta LB Zohoori Fatemeh Vida FV Kanmodi Kehinde K Pak Tannaz T
BMJ open 20230724 7
Charcoal production and utilisation are linked to various health issues and occupational hazards. However, to our knowledge, no systematic review has primarily focused on the health implications of charcoal production and its use while distinguishing charcoal from other solid fuels such as wood and coal.<h4>Objectives</h4>This systematic review presents a synthesis of the evidence on the health risks associated with producing and using charcoal across the world.<h4>Design</h4>Systematic review u ...[more]