The effect of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters on high particulate rural Alaska homes

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – Research Project 3: “The effect of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters on high particulate rural Alaska Native homes” Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) residents of rural Alaska experience a higher burden of acute and chronic respiratory disease than the general US population. Many AN/AI people living in rural Alaska experience poor indoor air quality (IAQ) because of substandard housing, household crowding, tobacco and woodstove use, and inadequate ventilation. Poor IAQ harms respiratory health, especially in arctic climates where residents spend approximately 90% of time indoors, and these factors have all been associated with respiratory disease. Portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters effectively reduce indoor particulate matter concentrations. Limited studies have evaluated the effectiveness of HEPA filters at removing particulate matter in rural Alaska but excluded homes in which smokers reside. Because poor indoor air quality in the homes of smokers and woodstove usage causes a high burden on respiratory health, it is important to evaluate the performance of HEPA filtration in these “high particulate” homes. The objective of this research is to evaluate the impact of HEPA filtration units among “high particulate” AN/AI homes in rural Alaska, where woodstoves are utilized for heating or a smoker resides in the home. We hypothesize that the use of HEPA filters will improve indoor air quality significantly and will decrease respiratory signs and symptoms of residents. We will enroll 15 participants and test our central hypothesis through the following aims: (1) Measure the effect of HEPA filters on air quality in “high particulate” homes. (2) Evaluate the impact of HEPA filters on reported respiratory symptoms for participants. (3) Assess acceptability and feasibility of personal exposure monitoring devices among rural Alaska Native participants, describe personal exposure to air pollutants other than PM2.5 that are known to be harmful to human health, and assess whether HEPA filtration changes personal exposure to these pollutants. This study will provide valuable information on the effects of HEPA filtration on indoor air quality and respiratory health outcomes in an indigenous population with a high burden of lung disease and unique risk factors that have been excluded from other studies – those living in “high particulate” homes. Additionally, we will assess the acceptability and feasibility of wearable personal exposure monitoring devices, a new technology that has not been utilized among AN/AI populations.