Fine Particles in Homes of Predominantly Low-Income Families with Children and Smokers: Key Physical and Behavioral Determinants to Inform Indoor-Air-Quality Interventions

Authors

Neil E. Klepeis, San Diego State University
John Belletierre, San Diego State University
Suzanne C. Hughes, San Diego State University
Benjamin Nguyen, San Diego State University
Vincent Berardi, Chapman UniversityFollow
Sandy Liles, San Diego State University
Saori Obayashi, San Diego State University
C. Richard Hofstetter, San Diego State University
Elaine Blumberg, San Diego State University
Melbourne F. Hovell, San Diego State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-17-2017

Abstract

Children are at risk for adverse health outcomes from occupant-controllable indoor airborne contaminants in their homes. Data are needed to design residential interventions for reducing low-income children's pollutant exposure. Using customized air quality monitors, we continuously measured fine particle counts (0.5 to 2.5 microns) over a week in living areas of predominantly low-income households in San Diego, California, with at least one child (under age 14) and at least one cigarette smoker. We performed retrospective interviews on home characteristics, and particle source and ventilation activities occurring during the week of monitoring. We explored the relationship between weekly mean particle counts and interview responses using graphical visualization and multivariable linear regression (base sample n = 262; complete cases n = 193). We found associations of higher weekly mean particle counts with reports of indoor smoking of cigarettes or marijuana, as well as with frying food, using candles or incense, and house cleaning. Lower particle levels were associated with larger homes. We did not observe an association between lower mean particle counts and reports of opening windows, using kitchen exhaust fans, or other ventilation activities. Our findings about sources of fine airborne particles and their mitigation can inform future studies that investigate more effective feedback on residential indoor-air-quality and better strategies for reducing occupant exposures.

Comments

This article was originally published in PLoS ONE, volume 12, issue 5, in 2017. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0177718

Recommended Citation

Klepeis NE, Bellettiere J, Hughes SC, Nguyen B, Berardi V, Liles S, et al. (2017) Fine particles in homes of predominantly low-income families with children and smokers: Key physical and behavioral determinants to inform indoor-air-quality interventions. PLoS ONE 12(5): e0177718. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177718

Copyright

The authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.