Use of free-standing filters in an asthma intervention study

Stuart Batterman; Liuliu Du; Edith Parker; Thomas Robins; Toby Lewis; Bhramar Mukherjee; Erminia Ramirez; Zachary Rowe; Wilma Brakefield-Caldwell

doi:10.1007/s11869-013-0216-9

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Use of free-standing filters in an asthma intervention study

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Use of free-standing filters in an asthma intervention study

Stuart Batterman, Liuliu Du, Edith Parker, Thomas Robins, Toby Lewis, Bhramar Mukherjee, Erminia Ramirez, Zachary Rowe and Wilma Brakefield-Caldwell

Air quality, atmosphere and health, Vol.6(4), pp.759-767

12/2013

DOI: 10.1007/s11869-013-0216-9

PMCID: PMC3889137

PMID: 24436726

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3889137View

Open Access

Abstract

This study characterizes the use of HEPA air filters provided to 89 households participating in an intervention study investigating the respiratory health of children with asthma. Free-standing filters were placed in the child's bedroom and monitored continuously for nearly a year in each household. Filter use was significantly affected by study phase, season, and monitoring week. During the “intensive” weeks when a community education worker and a field technician visited the household, the use rate averaged 70 ± 33 %. During season-long “non-intensive” periods between seasonal visits, use dropped to 34 ± 30 %. Filter use rapidly decreased during the 3 to 4 weeks following each intensive, and was slightly higher in spring, summer, and in the evening and at night when the child was likely to be home, although households did not follow consistent diurnal patterns. While participants expressed an understanding of the benefits of filter use and reported good experiences with them, use rates were low, particularly during unobserved non-intensive periods. The provision of free-standing air filters to individuals or households must be considered an active intervention that requires monitoring and evaluation; otherwise, unknown and unexpected patterns of filter use may alter and possibly bias results due to exposure misclassification.

Air Quality

Environmental Health

Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution

Behavior

Environment

Exposure misclassification

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

HEPA

Indoor environment

Intervention

Details

Title: Subtitle: Use of free-standing filters in an asthma intervention study
Creators: Stuart Batterman - School of Public Health University of Michigan Room 6075 SPH2, 1420 Washington Heights Ann Arbor MI 48109-2029 USA
Liuliu Du - School of Public Health University of Michigan Room 6075 SPH2, 1420 Washington Heights Ann Arbor MI 48109-2029 USA
Edith Parker - College of Public Health University of Iowa Iowa City IA 51503 USA
Thomas Robins - School of Public Health University of Michigan Room 6075 SPH2, 1420 Washington Heights Ann Arbor MI 48109-2029 USA
Toby Lewis - School of Medicine University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI 48109 USA
Bhramar Mukherjee - School of Public Health University of Michigan Room 6075 SPH2, 1420 Washington Heights Ann Arbor MI 48109-2029 USA
Erminia Ramirez - Community Health and Social Services Detroit MI USA
Zachary Rowe - Friends of Parkside Detroit MI USA
Wilma Brakefield-Caldwell - Community Action Against Asthma Detroit MI USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Air quality, atmosphere and health, Vol.6(4), pp.759-767
DOI: 10.1007/s11869-013-0216-9
PMID: 24436726
PMCID: PMC3889137
NLM abbreviation: Air Qual Atmos Health
ISSN: 1873-9318
eISSN: 1873-9326
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Language: English
Date published: 12/2013
Academic Unit: Public Health Administration; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive); Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9984215116202771

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