Reducing Exposure With Air Cleaners and Technology

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a type of air pollution made up of extremely tiny particles that can harm our health. Because PM2.5 particles are so small, they can travel deep into the lungs when we breathe. Exposure to PM2.5 can worsen asthma, cause breathing problems, increase the risk of heart attacks, and lead to early death, especially for people with existing heart or lung conditions. In California's Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP), a San Francisco community already facing high levels of air pollution and health impacts, sources of PM2.5 include industrial activity, commuter traffic, heavy-duty diesel trucks, freight trains, and port and maritime activities. The Reducing Exposure with Air Cleaners and Technology (REACT) Study is a partnership between UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and Brightline Defense. The goal is to see if air cleaners (also called air purifiers) can help reduce indoor PM2.5 levels and improve respiratory health. For this study, we'll be recruiting 100 households in BVHP to participate. In each home, we'll monitor indoor PM2.5 levels and the health status of household members who are 13 years old or older and have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Each home will be part of the study for 90 to 120 days, depending on scheduling. Households must reside in BVHP for the duration of the study and not have used an air cleaner in their home within the last 6 months. On Day 1, each household will receive a PurpleAir indoor air quality monitor to measure PM2.5 levels in their home. * For the first 30 days, we'll measure the home's normal air quality (baseline). * After 30 days, each household will receive an air cleaner (Figure 2) with information about how to best use it. * At that point, we'll also turn on a PM2.5 indicator light on half of the PurpleAir monitors. For the other half, we'll keep that indicator light turned off. This helps us study whether seeing the air quality in real time changes how people use the air cleaner. * For the next 30 days, we'll continue monitoring indoor PM2.5 levels. We'll also track how often the air cleaner is used with smart plug data loggers. * After 60 days, if a household isn't using the air cleaner much or it doesn't seem to be working well, we'll offer more training and support. * We'll continue monitoring over the final 30 days of the study.

Inclusion Criteria: * Reside in Bayview Hunters Point as defined by the California Assembly Bill 617 (AB617) map, and * Have at least one residing person (≥13 years old) with a chronic respiratory health condition (asthma or COPD). Our overarching goal is to recruit one individual participant per household. However, if recruitment proves to be difficult, we will permit more than 1 individual (adult or participant) to participate, with no more than 2 individuals per household recruited. All individuals will be required to have a chronic respiratory heath condition. Exclusion Criteria: * Residents who report active use of air cleaners in the past 6 months, and * Those who plan to move during the 90-day study period will be excluded. There will be no exclusion criteria based on income, housing type, or health- or indoor air quality impactful behaviors like smoking indoors.