Citizen-Science Technology for HealthyLiving at Home

Project Summary Environmental risk factors are attributable toof the chronic respiratory disease burden in the U Sand toof the burden from other non communicable diseasese gcancercardiovascular diseaseand diabetesExposure to environmental risk factors occurs through various forms of water and air pollutionwith a smaller attribution to sources like noiseradiationand physical hazardsMuch of this exposure occurs at homewhere people spendof their livesYetthe notion that your home should be good for your health is often taken for grantedHomes can be significant sources of harmful pollutant exposureIndoor levels of established and emerging pollutantsincluding carcinogensendocrine disrupting compoundscriteria air pollutantsand harmful microbesare often elevated relative to levels measured outside the homeThese exposures are important determinants of non communicable diseases and they are magnified by racialethnicand socioeconomic inequalities that prevail across the countryThusthere is a growing need for accessible environmental testing tools and educational programs to create awareness and inspire change in living conditions for improved long term healthThe cost and complexity of existing environmental measurement technologies are in large part why the average householdespecially minority or socioeconomically disadvantaged individualsare unaware of the environmental stressors in their place of residenceThis Phase I proposal will develop and demonstrate a novel and inexpensive environmental home assessment toolHome Health Boxfor measuring air and water quality in homesThe Home Health Box is a sensor and sample collection system that can be deployed by the home occupant quicklysimplyand with minimal effortAnalysis will include environmental stressors in airparticulate matterblack carbonmetalsvolatile organicsmold bacteriaand waterresidual chlorinemetalsbacteriaAfter constructing and testing the boxes we will deploy them across minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged homes in Fort CollinsCOMeasurement data will be communicated back to the home occupantwith an emphasis on culturally sensitive design of communicationsThe Home Health Box will empower individuals to understandrecognizeand mitigate environmental hazards in the homea place where the majority of exposure tends to occurTwo aims are proposedDevelop a simpleportable sampling and sensor system to quantify environmental stressors using a citizen science approach anddemonstrate performance and value of the Home Health Box concept in a pilot field study of racial and ethnic minority residents in Fort CollinsColorado Project Narrative The home is where the majority of oneandapos s lifetime exposures to harmful environmental contaminants occursand such exposures are disproportionately high in minority or socioeconomically disadvantaged homesWe propose to develop a simpleinexpensivelow cost measurement system for home environmental contaminants that can be deployed by the home occupant quicklysimplyand with minimal effortTheHome Health Boxwill offer more widespread awareness of environmental hazards in the home to promote healthier living