Monitoring Environmental Exposures and Behavioral Change

The goal of this study is to examine what effect real-time feedback on particulate matter (PM) air pollution levels has on risk recognition and behavior. The hypothesis is that real-time exposure feedback will change perceptions of risk and increase behaviors that avoid exposure to environmental risks. At least one representative household member in participating households will complete a questionnaire to fully understand environmental concerns, risk perceptions, and related behaviors. Half of the households will have PM monitors that continuously display real-time concentrations and an indication of the hazard level. The other participants will have the same device but it will only display the date and time. All participants will then be surveyed again: (a) immediately after sampling is complete (i.e., when the devices are removed from the home), (b) after 3 months and, (c) after 6 months. The goal of repeated surveys is to determine changing understanding of risks, how participating in research and/or receiving real-time exposure data may have changed participant behavior, and what concerns they continue to have. The questionnaire will include questions with categorical and/or quantitative answers (e.g., frequency of specific behaviors) so that changes in risk perception and behavior can be effectively analyzed.