Grantee Research Project Results
Final 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 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.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air (FRESSCA) study was designed to respond to community concerns about intrusion of wildfire smoke into farmworker homes in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California through evaporative coolers (ECs). Adding filtration to ECs would provide an exposure reduction strategy for low-income and socially disadvantaged communities that are disproportionately impacted by heat and wildfire smoke events. We conducted laboratory testing to identify likely effective filtration solutions for ECs that would also not interfere with thermal comfort of inhabitants. The filtration solutions were tested in a subset of the homes of 88 agricultural worker participants in the SJV. Participants also received high-efficiency particle absorbing (HEPA) indoor air cleaners and were asked about their EC satisfaction, willingness to pay for filtration solutions, and health and respiratory symptoms. PM sampling using PurpleAir monitors and passive samplers was conducted inside and outside residences with evaporative coolers during the study.
Although there was no significant wildfire smoke event during either of the two years of our field testing, we were still able to discern an indoor air quality benefit from the EC filters in study homes. Our study suggests that a do-it-yourself filtration solution with 4-inch MERV 13 filters or flat sheet filter media applied to the exterior of the EC using bungee straps is likely an effective short-term solution during a wildfire smoke event to reduce exposure of building inhabitants to particulate matter. EC users would have to purchase these filter solutions online. Participants were highly satisfied with both air cleaning and filtration solutions, however a willingness to pay analysis showed that filtration solutions would need to be offered at a low- or no-cost to EC users.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 14 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Wang M, Chang D, Singh A, Wagner J, Wang Z-M, Singer BC, Miller SL, Martinez N, Rodriguez R, Kaser I, Thompson M, Heidarinejad, M, Stephens B, Solomon G Practical guidance for using PurpleAir particle monitors for indoor and outdoor measurements in community field studies. Aerosol and Air Quality Research. 2025;25(8):47. |
R840242 (Final) |
Exit |
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Singh A, Stephens B, Heidarinejad M, Stinson B, Gall E, Wagner J, et al. Development and laboratory evaluation of a do-it-yourself (DIY) filtration solution for residential evaporative coolers to reduce indoor wildfire smoke exposure. Building and Environment. 2025;270:112475. |
R840242 (Final) |
not available |
Supplemental Keywords:
Air, indoor air, residential, particulates, PM2.5, PM10, engineering, monitoring, exposure, Environmental Justice, Latino, community-based, farmworker, agriculture, California, CA, Region 9Relevant Websites:
Tracking California | FRESSCA (Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air) Study Exit
OSF | Filtration for Respiratory Exposure to wildfire Smoke from Swamp Cooler Air (FRESSCA) Exit
Public Health Institute | Community Members in California’s San Joaquin Valley are Breathing Cleaner Air due to a New Air Filtration System 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.