Reductions in urinary metabolites of exposure to household air pollution in pregnant, rural Guatemalan women provided liquefied petroleum gas stoves

Background Household air pollution from solid fuels is a leading risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pregnant women’s exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), two components of solid-fuel smoke, is associated with adverse birth outcomes. Even with improved solid-fuel stoves, exposure to PAHs and VOCs remains high. Therefore, cleaner cooking fuels need to be prioritized. Objective We aimed to quantify exposure reduction to PAHs and VOCs among pregnant women in rural Guatemala with a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention. Materials and methods Urine from pregnant women ( N = 50) was collected twice: at