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Characterizing exposure in community health studies: A participant-based approach to indoor/outdoor air monitoring
Citation:
JOHNSON, M. M., E. E. HUDGENS, R. W. WILLIAMS, L. M. NEAS, H. Ozkaynak, AND J. GALLAGHER. Characterizing exposure in community health studies: A participant-based approach to indoor/outdoor air monitoring. Presented at International Society of Environmental Epidemiology Annual Conference, Pasadena, CA, October 12 - 16, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
research results
Description:
Introduction: Traffic-related air pollution has been associated with numerous adverse outcomes. However, community health studies of traffic-related air pollution have been hampered by the cost and participant burden associated with estimating household-level exposure through technician-based air monitoring or advanced modeling. This study utilized a participant-based approach to collect indoor and outdoor air monitoring data for 92 asthmatic and non-asthmatic children enrolled in health studies in Detroit, Michigan. Methods: Passive samplers were shipped to participating households and deployed by parents of study participants to collect indoor and outdoor measurements of NO2, VOC, and PAH. Half of the homes deployed VOC and NO2 samplers for 7 days; the rest deployed NO2 samplers for 2 days and PAH samplers for 1 and 2 days. Participants conducted air monitoring without assistance or oversight from trained technicians and returned samplers during a scheduled clinic visit. Results: Of 114 households asked to conduct air sampling, 91% agreed to participate. Of those agreeing to participate, 88% completed air sampling, and 85% provided usable data. Compliance and providing usable data were higher among participants deploying all samplers for 7 days compared with those who deployed some samplers for 2 days and others for 1 day. Compliance and providing usable data did not vary by asthma status or among households deploying duplicate samplers. Variation between duplicates and percent below detection limit were low for NO2 and BTEX. Measurements and trends were consistent with findings of technician-based studies.