Doug Brugge1, Shir Lerman Ginzburg2, Neelakshi Hudda3, Linda Sprague Martinez4, Leigh Meunier5, Scott P Hersey6, Ira Hochman7, Douglas I Walker8, Ben Echevarria9, Mohan Thanikachalam10, John L Durant11, Wig Zamore12, Misha Eliasziw13. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06032, United States of America. 2. UConn Health Department of Public Health Sciences, Farmington, CT 06032., United States of America. Electronic address: sginzburg@uchc.edu. 3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02476, United States of America. 4. Macro Department, Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, MA 02215, United States of America. 5. UConn Health Department of Public Health Sciences, Farmington, CT 06032., United States of America. 6. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Needham, MA 02492, United States of America. 7. inTouch Technology Corp., Cambridge, MA 02142, United States of America. 8. Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029l, United States of America. 9. Welcome Project, Somerville, MA 02145, United States of America. 10. Tufts University School of Medicine, Public Health and Community Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, United States of America. 11. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02476, United States of America. 12. Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville, MA 02145, United States of America. 13. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, United States of America.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Near highway residents are exposed to elevated levels of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), including ultrafine particles, which are associated with adverse health effects. The efficacy of using in-home air filtration units that reduce exposure and potentially yield health benefits has not been tested in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: We will conduct a randomized double-blind crossover trial of portable air filtration units for 200 adults 30 years and older who live in near-highway homes in Somerville, MA, USA. We will recruit participants from 172 households. The intervention periods will be one month of true or sham filtration, followed by a one-month wash out period and then a month of the alternate intervention. The primary health outcome will be systolic blood pressure (BP); secondary outcome measures will include diastolic and central BP, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and D-dimer. Reasons for success or failure of the intervention will be evaluated in a subset of homes using indoor/outdoor monitoring for particulate pollution, personal monitoring, size and composition of particulate pollution, tracking of time spent in the room with the filter, and interviews for qualitative feedback. RESULTS: This trial has begun recruitment and is expected to take 2-3 years to be completed. Recruitment has been particularly challenging because of additional precautions required by the COVID-19 pandemic. DISCUSSION: This study has the potential to shed light on the value of using portable air filtration in homes close to highways to reduce exposure to TRAP and whether doing so has benefits for cardiovascular health.
BACKGROUND: Near highway residents are exposed to elevated levels of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), including ultrafine particles, which are associated with adverse health effects. The efficacy of using in-home air filtration units that reduce exposure and potentially yield health benefits has not been tested in a randomized controlled trial. METHODS: We will conduct a randomized double-blind crossover trial of portable air filtration units for 200 adults 30 years and older who live in near-highway homes in Somerville, MA, USA. We will recruit participants from 172 households. The intervention periods will be one month of true or sham filtration, followed by a one-month wash out period and then a month of the alternate intervention. The primary health outcome will be systolic blood pressure (BP); secondary outcome measures will include diastolic and central BP, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and D-dimer. Reasons for success or failure of the intervention will be evaluated in a subset of homes using indoor/outdoor monitoring for particulate pollution, personal monitoring, size and composition of particulate pollution, tracking of time spent in the room with the filter, and interviews for qualitative feedback. RESULTS: This trial has begun recruitment and is expected to take 2-3 years to be completed. Recruitment has been particularly challenging because of additional precautions required by the COVID-19 pandemic. DISCUSSION: This study has the potential to shed light on the value of using portable air filtration in homes close to highways to reduce exposure to TRAP and whether doing so has benefits for cardiovascular health.
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