Indoor Air Quality Issues for Rocky Mountain West Tribes

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Indigenous Health
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Native American populations experience health disparities, with limited access to resources on reservations.
• Previous research suggests potential links between tribal housing quality and adverse health outcomes, such as asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, specifically particulate matter (PM2.5) and radon concentrations, on two Native American reservations in the Rocky Mountain West.
• To establish a collaborative partnership with tribal communities through Community Advisory Boards (CABs) for research design, implementation, and dissemination.

Main Methods:

• A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was employed, involving collaboration with tribal councils and community members via CABs.
• Indoor air quality was monitored in residential homes using low-cost sensors for PM2.5 and activated charcoal test kits for radon over 6-8 days.
• Data collection and research activities received approval through official tribal resolutions.

Main Results:

• While much data was below the sensor's limit of quantification, several homes exhibited daily average PM2.5 concentrations exceeding suggested exposure guidelines.
• Nearly half of the sampled homes reported radon levels above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level.
• Mitigation efforts were initiated for homes with the most critical radon levels.

Conclusions:

• Indoor air quality, including PM2.5 and radon, poses a potential risk in the studied tribal housing.
• The findings highlight the necessity for comprehensive, community-wide assessments to understand the scope and patterns of IAQ problems on reservations.
• Continued community-academic partnerships are crucial for addressing environmental health concerns in Indigenous communities.