Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2017, 7, 41-54 http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojpm ISSN Online: 2162-2485 ISSN Print: 2162-2477 DOI: 10.4236/ojpm.2017.73004 March 24, 2017 Occupational Exposure to Particulate Matter from Biomass Smoke and Its Relationship to Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Function among Rural Women Involved in Cassava Processing in Nigeria Tochi J. Okwor 1* , Obianuju B. Ozoh 2 , Ifeoma J. Okonkwo 3 , Akin Osibogun 1 1 Centre for Epidemiology and Health Development, Ibeju Lekki, Nigeria 2 College of Medicine University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Nigeria 3 University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Nigeria Abstract Background: Cassava processing is an important source of livelihood for many rural women and involves prolonged exposure to biomass smoke. The impact of this exposure on respiratory health of these women has not been explored. We aimed to compare the frequency of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among cassava processing women to that of petty traders as well as the levels of particulate matter PM 2.5 and PM 10 at the workplaces of these women. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional design. Question- naire was administered; spirometry was performed; PM 2.5 and PM 10 were sampled. Descriptive statistics were used and multiple logistic regressions were performed to assess the relationship between predictors and outcome va- riables. Results: 528 non-smoking women were recruited (264 cassava proces- sors and 264 petty traders). The women were matched by baseline parameters. PM 2.5 levels at the cassava processing plants were (50 ± 10.0 μg/m 3 ) while the levels at the petty traders’ stalls were 13.0 ± 10.0 μg/m 3 (P < 0.001). One-year prevalence of respiratory symptoms among cassava processors compared to petty traders was as follows: cough 22.7% versus 9.5% (P < 0.001), chronic bronchitis 5.7% versus 2.3% (P = 0.045), phlegm 23.1% versus 11%, wheezing 10.2% versus 5.3% (P = 0.05), breathlessness 36% versus 30.7% (P = 0.230). The mean (standard deviation) of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) of 2.11 ± 0.37 liters, Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) of 1.58 ± 0.38 liters and FEV1/FVC of 74.12% ± 7.55% among cassava processors was significantly lower than FVC of 2.19 ± 0.28 liters, FEV 1 of 1.72 ± 0.26 liters and FEV1/FVC How to cite this paper: Okwor, T.J., Ozoh, O.B., Okonkwo, I.J. and Osibogun, A. (2017) Occupational Exposure to Particu- late Matter from Biomass Smoke and Its Relationship to Respiratory Symptoms and Pulmonary Function among Rural Women Involved in Cassava Processing in Nigeria. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 7, 41-54. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpm.2017.73004 Received: February 9, 2017 Accepted: March 21, 2017 Published: March 24, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access