Randomized trial in rural Native American homes heated with wood stoves: results from the EldersAIR study.

Residential wood burning has both practical and traditional value among many indigenous communities of the United States Mountain West, although household biomass burning also results in emissions that are harmful to health. In a household-level three-arm placebo-controlled randomized trial we tested the efficacy of portable filtration units and education interventions on improving pulmonary function and blood pressure measures among elder participants that use wood stoves for residential heating. A total of 143 participants were assigned to the Education (n=49), Filter (n=47), and Control (n=47) arms.

Efficacy of air filtration and education interventions on fine particulate matter among rural Native American homes heated with wood stoves: Results from the EldersAIR randomized trial.

Background: Native Americans living in rural areas often rely upon wood stoves for home heating that can lead to elevated indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM). Wood stove use is associated with adverse health outcomes, which can be a particular risk in vulnerable populations including older adults.

Objectives: We assessed the impact of portable air filtration units and educational approaches that incorporated elements of traditional knowledge on indoor and personal PM concentrations among rural, Native American elder households with wood stoves.

Efficacy of Air Filtration and Education Interventions on Indoor Fine Particulate Matter and Child Lower Respiratory Tract Infections among Rural U.S. Homes Heated with Wood Stoves: Results from the KidsAIR Randomized Trial.

Background: Millions of rural U.S. households are heated with wood stoves.

Indoor fine particulate matter and demographic, household, and wood stove characteristics among rural US homes heated with wood fuel.

Household heating using wood stoves is common practice in many rural areas of the United States (US) and can lead to elevated concentrations of indoor fine particulate matter (PM ). We collected 6-day measures of indoor PM during the winter and evaluated household and stove-use characteristics in homes at three rural and diverse study sites. The median indoor PM concentration across all homes was 19 µg/m , with higher concentrations in Alaska (median = 30, minimum = 4, maximum = 200, n = 10) and Navajo Nation homes (median = 29, minimum = 3, maximum = 105, n = 23) compared with Montana homes (median = 16, minimum = 2, maximum = 139, n = 59).

Improving mammography access for women with disabilities: Outcomes of the CDC's right to know campaign.

Women with disabilities share similar risks for breast cancer as other women yet experience a lack of access to cancer screening and are less likely to receive screening mammograms in accordance with recommended guidelines. The present study evaluated mammography centers across the state of Montana in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Right to Know campaign, which focused on addressing barriers to breast cancer screening. Mammography centers were originally evaluated in 2009 and were reassessed in 2011 and 2015 after being given action plans to address accessibility barriers.

Wood stove interventions and child respiratory infections in rural communities: KidsAir rationale and methods.

Background: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) account for >27% of all hospitalizations among US children under five years of age. Residential burning of biomass for heat leads to elevated indoor levels of fine particulate matter (PM) that often exceed current health based air quality standards. This is concerning as PM exposure is associated with many adverse health outcomes, including a greater than three-fold increased risk of LRTIs.

Evaluating the Impact of Authentic Research on Secondary Student Self-efficacy and Future Scientific Possible Selves.

Background: As the need to involve more students in STEM learning and future careers becomes more pressing, identifying successful methods of engaging students in meaningful scientific learning that increases their interest in science is essential. Student self-efficacy (their confidence or belief in their ability to accomplish tasks) is closely tied to student interest in science, as is student future scientific possible selves.

Material And Methods: This manuscript presents the findings of a study that evaluated the Clean Air and Healthy Homes Program (CAHHP), which provides students the opportunity to design and implement authentic scientific research on indoor air quality issues.

The Clean Air and Healthy Homes Program: A Model for Authentic Science Learning.

(CAHHP) is a science education outreach program that involves students in research of their own design related to indoor and outdoor air pollution and links with respiratory health. The program, which provides equipment, lesson plans, and support to middle and high school classrooms and professional development for teachers, is an excellent model of how to engage students in relevant and authentic science research and learning. This article describes the current program, how it promotes authentic science learning in secondary science education, and the positive impact it has had on student learning and attitudes.

Air Toxics Under the Big Sky: Examining the Effectiveness of Authentic Scientific Research on High School Students' Science Skills and Interest.

is an environmental science outreach/education program that incorporates the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) 8 Practices with the goal of promoting knowledge and understanding of authentic scientific research in high school classrooms through air quality research. A quasi-experimental design was used in order to understand: 1) and 2) . Treatment students received instruction related to air pollution (airborne particulate matter), associated health concerns, and training on how to operate air quality testing equipment.

Household reporting of childhood respiratory health and air pollution in rural Alaska Native communities.

Background: Air pollution is an important contributor to respiratory disease in children.

Objective: To examine associations between household reporting of childhood respiratory conditions and household characteristics related to air pollution in Alaska Native communities.

Design: In-home surveys were administered in 2 rural regions of Alaska.

Sources and perceptions of indoor and ambient air pollution in rural Alaska.

Even though Alaska is the largest state in the United States, much of the population resides in rural and underserved areas with documented disparities in respiratory health. This is especially true in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (southwest) and Ahtna (southcentral) Regions of Alaska. In working with community members, the goal of this study was to identify the air pollution issues (both indoors and outdoors) of concern within these two regions.

The Power of the Symposium: Impacts from Students' Perspectives.

The Air Toxics under the Big Sky program developed at the University of Montana is a regional outreach and education initiative that offers a yearlong exploration of air quality and its relation to respiratory health. The program was designed to connect university staff and resources with rural schools enabling students to learn and apply science process skills through self-designed research projects conducted within their communities. As part of the program, students develop and conduct independent projects, then share their findings at the conclusion of the school year in some type of interactive capstone experience, the most prominent being a high school symposium held at The University of Montana campus.