Does biomass exposure affect serum MDA levels in women?

It is believed that the inhalation of biomass fuel, a substance that is used for bread baking and heating in rural areas, is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary symptoms. The products of biomass are claimed to affect the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, which plays a significant role in such a disease COPD. In our study, the serum level of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) was accepted as a marker of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, and it was measured by the thiobarbituric acid method. A total of 43 women living in the central and rural areas of Diyarbakir was chosen randomly for the study and they were divided into two groups. The first group, also called the study population, consisted of 28 women living in rural areas. The mean age of the sample was 43 yr (range 31-63 yr). All were healthy and nonsmokers. Among these women the mean duration of the exposure to biomass was 12 h/wk for 25 yr. The mean MDA level (+/-SD) was 3281 +/- 0.789 nmol/ml. The second group, the control population, consisted of 15 healthy women of age 42 yr (range 30-65 yr). They were again nonsmokers and healthy. These women were selected from the central Diyarbakir. The mean MDA level (+/-SD) was 1.474 +/- 0.630 nmol/ml. The difference between two populations were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, we believe that the high level of serum MDA in women is a result of biomass exposure.