Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in a multi-city cohort of children with asthma: Analyzing true exposure and the validity of caregiver survey.

Introduction: The avoidance of asthma triggers, like tobacco smoke, facilitates asthma management. Reliance upon caregiver report of their child's environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure may result in information bias and impaired asthma management. This analysis aimed to characterize the chronicity of ETS exposure, assess the validity of caregiver report of ETS exposure, and investigate the relationship between ETS exposure and asthma attack.

Ambient smoke exposure and indoor air quality in eastern Massachusetts during the 2023 wildfire season.

Widespread North American wildfires in 2023 led to exposure to ambient wildfire smoke outside of traditionally wildfire-prone regions. The objective was to evaluate levels of indoor air pollutants in relation to ambient wildfire smoke exposure in eastern Massachusetts. Using a real-time multipollutant sensor system in five Boston area households, this study assessed indoor fine particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and total volatile organic compound concentrations (TVOC) two days before and during days of hazardous wildfire smoke exposure (smoke days).

Exploring associations between the Phthalate Environmental Reproductive Health Literacy (PERHL) scale & biomarkers of phthalate exposure: A pilot study.

Background: Perinatal exposure to phthalates is associated with adverse health impacts for parents and children. The field of environmental health literacy seeks to measure how environmental health information is conceptualized and used to inform behaviors. We assessed whether scores on the validated Phthalate Environmental Reproductive Health Literacy (PERHL) scale were associated with biomarkers of phthalate exposure.

Development of a Phthalate Environmental Reproductive Health Literacy (PERHL) Scale.

Background: Substantial evidence exists linking phthalate exposure to adverse reproductive health outcomes. Current US federal regulations of consumer product chemicals place the onus on individuals to mitigate their exposure to phthalates, with assumptions of sufficient environmental health literacy (EHL). Few validated scales for people of reproductive age exist to evaluate phthalate-specific EHL.