Personalized Indoor Air Quality Reports for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Hope Cruse

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Colorado State University

Disqualifiers: Moving within six months

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

250 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if personalized reports about indoor air quality, called the Home Health Report, can improve home air quality. Participants will receive detailed information about pollutants like dust and chemicals, along with practical tips to enhance their home air. Researchers will divide homes into two groups: one will receive these reports during the trial, and the other at the end. Individuals who have lived in their home for at least six months and plan to stay are ideal candidates for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance home environments for many families.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on improving indoor air quality and does not mention any medication requirements.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for improving indoor air quality?

Studies have shown that poor indoor air quality can cause health issues like headaches, tiredness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. The Home Health Report, the focus of this study, is not a drug or medical treatment. Instead, it provides personalized information about air pollutants in the home and suggests affordable ways to improve air quality.

Because this study involves receiving information rather than taking medication or using a device, it lacks the typical safety concerns of clinical trials. The Home Health Report is safe to use, as it simply offers advice based on air quality measurements. The goal is to help improve the air breathed at home without any direct physical intervention. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Personalized Indoor Air Quality Reports because they provide tailored insights into indoor air pollutants like fine particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, which aren't typically addressed in current air quality solutions. Unlike standard air purifiers or ventilation systems that don't offer specific feedback, this approach gives households concrete data and actionable steps to improve their air quality. By offering personalized reports after each air quality assessment, residents can make informed changes to their environment, potentially leading to better health outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the Home Health Report is effective for improving indoor air quality?

Research has shown that personalized information about indoor air quality can improve home air conditions. In this trial, participants in the intervention arm will receive personalized Home Health Reports, which offer details about air pollutants and practical tips to reduce them. Studies have found that when people learn about air pollutant levels, such as tiny particles, and receive practical tips, they can effectively reduce these pollutants. For example, one study found that harmful particles decreased by an average of 1.91 micrograms per cubic meter in homes using these methods. This suggests that clear, personalized air quality reports, combined with practical advice, can lead to healthier indoor environments. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ellison Carter, PhD

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who will be living in their current home for at least the next six months. It's not suitable for those planning to move within six months of starting the study.

Inclusion Criteria

You are residing in a dwelling for the next six months.

Exclusion Criteria

Participants will not be living in the same household within six months of enrollment

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive personalized Home Health Reports and Home Health Box deployments to monitor and improve indoor air quality

4-6 months

3 in-home visits for air quality monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are surveyed on the utility of the Home Health Reports and receive a comprehensive report at the end of the study

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Home Health Report

Trial Overview

The study tests if indoor air quality improves when occupants get a Home Health Report with data on air pollutants and tips to enhance air quality. Homes are monitored over time, comparing those receiving reports with control homes that do not.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Home Health Report will provide quantitative information about health-relevant pollutants (fine particulate matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds), their levels compared to health-based guidelines, their potential sources, as well as no- and low-cost actions occupants could take to improve indoor air quality. The Home Health Report will be designed to maximize utility to residents. Each Home Health Report will be provided after the corresponding Home Health Box deployment. The second Home Health Box deployment will occur after the household receiving their first Home Health Report. The third and final Home Health Box deployment will occur within one month of the household receiving their second Home Health Report.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Households in the control group will also receive three Home Health deployments spaced over several months, but will not receive Home Health Reports after the first and second deployments. At the close of their participation in the study, households in the control group will receive a comprehensive Home Health Report, including results from all three Home Health Box deployments and recommended actions occupants could take to improve their home air quality.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Colorado State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

138

Recruited

38,200+

University of Colorado, Denver

Collaborator

Trials

1,842

Recruited

3,028,000+

Access Sensor Technologies, LLC

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

250+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 60 children with cystic fibrosis, those using electronic home spirometry showed a significant improvement in lung function, with a 5% increase in FEV1 for adherent users compared to a 2.5% decrease in the usual care group.

The use of home spirometry also led to a notable improvement in the social quality of life domain for patients, indicating that electronic monitoring can enhance both health outcomes and overall well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electronic home monitoring of children with cystic fibrosis to detect and treat acute pulmonary exacerbations and its effect on 1-year FEV1. Yanaz, M., Yilmaz Yegit, C., Gulieva, A., et al.[2023]

The study successfully developed a monitoring system using the Foobot sensor that can detect asthma-exacerbating activities like smoking and cooking with high accuracy, achieving 95.7% overall classification accuracy.

The system demonstrated a very low error rate of 1% for detecting smoking and 11% for cooking, allowing healthcare providers to better understand the impact of indoor air quality on asthma symptoms without needing to be physically present.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigation of an Indoor Air Quality Sensor for Asthma Management in Children. Jaimini, U., Banerjee, T., Romine, W., et al.[2020]

The study successfully reported indoor air quality results, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), back to participants in Chelsea, Massachusetts, aiming to enhance their understanding of air pollution in their homes and community.

A two-part report back process, which included personalized mailings of pollutant data and a community meeting, was developed with input from diverse stakeholders, demonstrating an effective model for improving environmental health literacy and empowering community action.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reporting Results of a Community-Based In-Home Exposure Monitoring Study: Developing Methods and Materials. Schollaert, C., Alvarez, M., Gillooly, S., et al.[2021]

A study of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) developed predictive models to estimate indoor air pollution levels, specifically PM2.5, NO2, NOx, and nicotine, based on home and behavioral questionnaires, achieving about 60% explanation of variation in pollutant concentrations.

The models showed good predictive capability, with cross-validated R2 values ranging from 0.43 for NOx to 0.51 for NO2, indicating that indoor air quality can be effectively estimated without direct measurement in large cohort studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Modeling residential indoor concentrations of PM2.5 , NO2 , NOx , and secondhand smoke in the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD (SPIROMICS) Air study. Zusman, M., Gassett, AJ., Kirwa, K., et al.[2022]

A cloud-connected indoor air quality sensor system was developed to monitor pollutants like NO2 and ozone in real-time, providing valuable data for asthma research and management in patients' homes.

In a pilot study with pediatric asthma patients, some families experienced NO2 levels exceeding the EPA's safe exposure limit, highlighting the potential health risks associated with indoor air pollution from natural gas appliances.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Cloud-connected NO2 and Ozone Sensor System for Personalized Pediatric Asthma Research and Management. Dong, Q., Li, B., Downen, RS., et al.[2021]

Adults with asthma expressed a strong willingness to use personal air pollution sensors for monitoring PM2.5 exposure, indicating a potential for improved self-management of their condition.

The study demonstrated that portable sensors provided real-time PM2.5 measurements with greater detail than traditional stationary monitors, capturing fluctuations in air quality that could help patients better understand their exposure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and acceptability of monitoring personal air pollution exposure with sensors for asthma self-management. Xie, S., Meeker, JR., Perez, L., et al.[2022]

A comprehensive one-year dataset from 100 homes across 18 provinces in China shows that household air purifiers effectively monitor and improve indoor air quality by recording key parameters like formaldehyde and PM2.5 levels.

The data collected can help evaluate the effectiveness of air purifiers, understand how outdoor climate changes affect indoor air quality, and predict future trends in indoor living conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One-year dataset of hourly air quality parameters from 100 air purifiers used in China residential buildings. Wei, J., Wang, Y., Mo, J., et al.[2023]

In a 12-month study evaluating three low-cost air quality monitors, the AirVisual Pro demonstrated the highest accuracy in measuring PM2.5 concentrations, achieving about 86% accuracy compared to a reference monitor, while the Speck and AirThinx showed significantly lower accuracies.

The study highlights the importance of regular calibration and post-processing to improve the accuracy of these monitors, suggesting that while they have potential for scientific research, careful evaluation is necessary to ensure reliable data for assessing indoor air quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

One Year Evaluation of Three Low-Cost PM2.5 Monitors. Zamora, ML., Rice, J., Koehler, K.[2021]

Indoor air quality (IAQ) was monitored using low-cost sensors over 5 months in two households, showing strong correlations with reference equipment, indicating that these sensors can reliably assess air quality.

The study found that recommended comfort levels for temperature and humidity were often not met, with particulate matter levels peaking on weekends and CO2 levels higher on weekdays, highlighting the influence of resident behavior and outdoor conditions on indoor air quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using low-cost sensors to assess real-time comfort and air quality patterns in indoor households. Reis, J., Lopes, D., Graça, D., et al.[2023]

In a 6-month study involving 116 former smokers with COPD, 76.1% of participants adhered to using portable air cleaners at least 80% of the time, which could potentially improve their respiratory health by reducing indoor pollutants.

Factors such as higher household income and using electric heating were linked to better adherence, while lower quality of life and recent exacerbations were associated with lower adherence, indicating that socioeconomic and health status play crucial roles in the effectiveness of air cleaner interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patterns and Predictors of Air Cleaner Adherence Among Adults with COPD. Lorizio, W., Woo, H., McCormack, MC., et al.[2022]

A new software application has been developed to model and display real-time air pollution levels (PM2.5, PM10, and ozone) in Oregon, allowing users to assess their personal health risks based on their current location.

The app can notify users when air quality exceeds their set warning levels, providing a valuable tool for individuals, especially those with health conditions like asthma, to manage their exposure to harmful air pollutants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing a smartphone software package for predicting atmospheric pollutant concentrations at mobile locations. Larkin, A., Williams, DE., Kile, ML., et al.[2020]

The modified asthma control measure (ACM) effectively identifies uncontrolled asthma with a high sensitivity of 0.99 and a specificity of 0.65 in a study of 498 subjects.

This patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) can differentiate between well-controlled and uncontrolled asthma and is suitable for use in digital remote monitoring without requiring a license.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Toward an asthma patient-reported outcome measure for use in digital remote monitoring. Rudin, RS., Qureshi, N., Foer, D., et al.[2022]

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