Factors that Influence Environmental Health Literacy from Returning Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure Results

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Health Literacy

Background:

• Reporting personal environmental exposure data to participants is increasing.
• Tools to assess the impact of data reporting on Environmental Health Literacy (EHL) are limited.
• Understanding factors influencing EHL post-reporting is crucial for effective science communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with changes in EHL after participants received personal air monitoring results.
• To evaluate the relationship between receiving environmental exposure data and participants' subsequent perspectives and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A New York City pregnancy cohort study assessed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure.
• Participants (n=168) received personal air monitoring results 2-5 years post-participation.
• A subset (n=47) completed a survey to evaluate perspectives and behaviors, leading to a quantitative EHL scale.

Main Results:

• Participants with a college degree were more likely to be surprised by results than those with less than a high school degree (OR=5.60).
• Higher naphthalene levels correlated with decreased odds of surprise (OR=0.37).
• Higher education and income tended to correlate with higher EHL scores, and surprise/gladness about results was linked to higher EHL.

Conclusions:

• While no direct associations were found between demographics/exposure and a dichotomous EHL indicator, trends suggest education and income influence EHL.
• Participant reactions like surprise or gladness upon receiving results were associated with higher EHL.
• Despite some initial worry, participants generally reported positive reception to their environmental exposure data.