Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air (FRESSCA)
EPA Grant Number: R840242Title: Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air (FRESSCA)
Investigators: Solomon, Gina M , Miller, Shelly , Balmes, John R. , Stephens, Brent , Heidarinejad, Mohammad , English, Paul , Wagner, Jeff , Martinez, Nayamin , Garzon-Galvis, Catalina
Institution: Public Health Institute , Illinois Institute of Technology , California Department of Public Health , University of California - San Francisco , University of Colorado Boulder , Central California Environmental Justice Network
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2024
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2022 through August 31,2023
Project Amount: $994,407
RFA: Interventions and Communication Strategies to Reduce Health Risks of Wildland Fire Smoke Exposures (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Wildfires
Objective:
This project seeks to reduce wildfire smoke exposures and health risks among agricultural workers and other low-income families by designing and field testing an affordable and effective filtration system for evaporative (“swamp”) coolers.
Progress Summary:
To date, we have: (1) Implemented a participant engagement strategy, held six community meetings, and convened a Community Advisory Group four times; (2) Developed recruitment materials, standard operating procedures, questionnaires, and data logging methods and received IRB approval for our study and amendments; (3) Recruited 31 homes in year 1 and 57 homes in year 2 in our study communities; (4) In year 2, implemented our filtration solution for external installation on 25 participant evaporative coolers and air cleaners in 49 homes; and (5) Assessed the effectiveness of our air quality solutions using continuous monitoring for particulate matter, particle deposition monitoring, and questionnaires.
Future Activities:
We will analyze the data collected during the field testing and will develop multiple products, including individual results return for each participant/household, summaries for presentation at community meetings in each study location, additional conference abstracts, peer-reviewed publications, and recommendations to protect residents of homes with evaporative coolers from wildfire smoke. We will also format and post our de-identified data for sharing with other researchers and interested parties.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 14 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Air, indoor air, residential, particulates, PM2.5, PM10, engineering, monitoring, exposure, Environmental Justice, Latino, community-based, farmworker, agriculture, California, CA, Region 9Relevant Websites:
FRESSCA (Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air) Study Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.