Grantee Research Project Results

2016 Progress Report: From Home to School: Tribal Indoor Air Quality Intervention Study

EPA Grant Number: R835596
Title: From Home to School: Tribal Indoor Air Quality Intervention Study
Investigators: Shaughnessy, Richard J , Khan, Sohail
Institution: University of Tulsa , Navajo Nation - EPA and Dept. of Diné Education , Nimiipuu Health , Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals , University of Oklahoma , Cherokee Nation Environmental Program and Health Services
Current Institution: University of Tulsa , Cherokee Nation Environmental Program and Health Services , Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals , Navajo Nation - EPA and Dept. of Diné Education , Nimiipuu Health , University of Oklahoma
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2018
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2016 through May 31,2017
Project Amount: $919,988
RFA: Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Tribal Environmental Health Research , Human Health

Objective:

By improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and reducing environmental asthma triggers this study intends to reduce asthma symptoms related to tribal home-&-school childhood exposures. The study will demonstrate the importance of a total exposure approach based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). TEK from 3 tribes in different regions/climates will refine education, source control of allergens by targeted cleaning and other asthma trigger removal activities, ventilation and air cleaning interventions that reduce asthma triggers.

Research Approach: Observational pre-test/post-test study with matched case-control to determine impact of asthma trigger reduction interventions on asthma symptom days. The interventions are based on developing a deeper understanding and respect for the living and non-living interactions in and between school and home environments that is the hallmark of TEK. The attention to both school and home environments will embody a more complete profile of total exposure of the tribal children throughout the day.

Expected Results: The number of days that tribal school children with asthma are absent from school each year are expected to decrease 45% or 2.5 days because of fewer asthma symptom days.

Progress Summary:

Conducting Phase 3 data analyses of Phase 2 Cherokee Nation and Nez Perce Tribe data. Collected Phase 2 Navajo Nation school data and will complete school data collection in September 2017. Phase 4 outreach began May 4 2017 with presentation at the National Tribal Forum on Air Quality in Tucson, Arizona. Data analyses involved 12 Cherokee Nation schools and 94 families, and 4 Nez Perce Tribe public schools and 25 families. In Navajo Nation 2 Bureau of Indian Education schools are participating in the study. Navajo Nation family recruitment did not result in adequate number of families for the study, however, increased outreach/education efforts are being initiated in Navajo Nation to more effectively transfer useful information to family members in efforts to better arm them with approaches to reduce asthma triggers within the homes Asthma trigger samples and observations were made three times over the course of the 2015-2016 school year for Cherokee Nation and Nez Perce, and the 2016-2017 school year for Navajo Nation.

Future Activities:

Phase 3 data analysis completion including last round of Navajo Nation school data collection in September 2017, Phase 4 development of outreach and training materials in Year 4, and Phase 5 dissemination of results. Year 4 analysis will include: Navajo Nation final school data input and compilation, QA checks for data entry accuracy including logic and descriptive statistics checks of data normalcy, data analysis and development of findings. Outreach and training activities will include work with Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) to develop materials and presentations to convey findings and recommendations to tribes across the United States. In addition, development of papers for conferences and journals will start in Phase 4 and continue to Phase 5 dissemination of results. Expected conference presentations will include Indoor Air 2018 July 22-27 in Philadelphia, PA and the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board Bi-Annual Research Conference, October 18-19 in Window Rock, AZ.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 10 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Airborne contaminants, student attendance, cleaning, Q Method, ANCOVA, ATP, adenosine triphosphate, dust sampling, schools, asthma, allergens, Cherokee Nation, Navajo Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, Nimiipuu, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Idaho, EPA Region 6, EPA Region 10.

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.