Abstract
Native American populations face considerable health disparities, especially among those who live on reservations, where access to healthcare, education, and safe housing can be limited. Previous research on tribal housing has raised concerns about housing construction, damage, and possible linkage to adverse health effects (e.g., asthma). This community-based participatory research (CBPR) project investigated indoor air quality issues on two Rocky Mountain west reservations. At the onset of the project, the research team formed a partnership with community advisory boards (CABs) consisting of representatives from tribal councils and community members. Research design, implementation, and dissemination all took place in full collaboration with the CABs following approval through official tribal resolutions. Residential homes were monitored for particulate matter with diameter <2.5 microns (PM2.5) and radon concentrations. Low-cost air quality sensors and activated charcoal radon test kits were placed in tribal households for 6-8 days. A large amount of data were below the sensor limit of quantification (LOQ), but several homes had daily averages that exceeded suggested PM2.5 guidelines, suggestive of the potential for high exposure. Additionally, nearly half of all homes sampled had radon levels above the EPA action level, with mitigation activities initiated for the most concerning homes. Findings from this study indicate the need for future community-wide assessments to determine the magnitude and patterns of indoor air quality issues.
Highlights
Native American populations face considerable health disparities, including a lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers [1]
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Native American populations, and while this is generally attributed to higher rates of tobacco use, growing concerns have been expressed regarding the role of radon exposure [34, 35]
The first step in the community-based participatory research (CBPR) process was the establishment of a community advisory board (CAB) for each tribe
Summary
Native American populations face considerable health disparities, including a lower life expectancy and higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers [1]. Native American children are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than white non-Hispanic children [26], and are hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infections at a rate 1.5 times greater than the general population [27] Radon is another major source of indoor air pollution linked to poor-quality housing and conducive geological conditions (e.g., cracks in the foundation, contaminated well water, zonal elevated radon concentrations) [28]. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Native American populations, and while this is generally attributed to higher rates of tobacco use, growing concerns have been expressed regarding the role of radon exposure [34, 35]. The goal was to first assess local indoor air quality, and to inform the tribal communities of any concerning levels in need of mitigation and to establish recommendations for future assessments
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