Oxford University scientists in the UK and Beijing University in China found a clear connection between the preparation of food on solid fuel and hazardous eye diseases that can lead to blindness. This is reported in an article published in PLOS Medicine magazine.
Researchers analyzed the data on almost half a million adult Chinese, who passed a survey about food habits. Specialists also followed the subsequent hospitalization of participants in connection with serious eye diseases. Over a ten-year surveillance period among research participants, there were 4877 cases of conjunctiva diseases, 13408 cataracts, 1583 sclera diseases, cornea, iris and ciliary bodies (DSCIC), as well as 1534 cases of glaucoma.
Compared to those who prepared with electricity or gas, consumers of solid fuel (firewood or coal), as a rule, were older women, rural residents, agricultural workers and smokers. Given these factors, it turned out that the long-term use of solid food preparation fuel was associated with an increase in the risk of conjunctivitis, cataracts and DSCIC by 32, 17 and 35 percent, respectively. There was no connection between the long-term use of solid fuel and an increased risk of glaucoma.
According to scientists, the increased risk of disease can be caused by the impact of high levels of small solid particles (PM2.5) and carbon oxide, which can damage the surface of the eye and cause inflammation.