Research Project: Improving Portable Air Cleaner Use in Homes with Children
Grant Awarded:
Indoor Air Award
Research Topics:
air pollution
biomarkers
implementation science
public health
Portable air cleaners (PACs) are efficient at removing particulate matter (PM) from indoor air in homes, but they are often not used frequently enough for their benefits to be realized. The goal of this project is to identify ways to encourage people to use these helpful devices more effectively. We will test whether participant data report-back, an intervention where study participants receive information about the data they provide to researchers, can encourage PAC use at home. We will measure the impact of exposure data report-back on PAC use and indoor air pollutants concentrations and assess the relationships between PAC use and indicators of inflammation in children. We will also examine participant experiences using the PACs and receiving report-back data to identify barriers and opportunities for strategies to improve knowledge about environmental health and PAC use in the homes of children.