Air Cleaners for Asthma and COPD
(REACT Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a type of air pollution made up of extremely tiny particles that can harm our health. Because PM2.5 particles are so small, they can travel deep into the lungs when inhaled. Exposure to PM2.5 can worsen asthma, cause breathing problems, increase the risk of heart attacks, and lead to early death, especially for people with existing heart or lung conditions. In California's Bayview Hunters Point (BVHP), a San Francisco community already facing high levels of air pollution and health impacts, sources of PM2.5 include industrial activity, commuter traffic, heavy-duty diesel trucks, freight trains, and port and maritime activities.
The Reducing Exposure with Air Cleaners and Technology (REACT) Study is a partnership between University of California (UC) Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and Brightline Defense. The goal is to see if air cleaners (also called air purifiers) can help reduce indoor PM2.5 levels and improve respiratory health.
For this study, the investigators will be recruiting 100 households in BVHP to participate. In each home, indoor PM2.5 levels and the health status of household members who are 13 years old or older and have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be monitored. Each home will be part of the study for 90 to 120 days, depending on scheduling. Households must reside in BVHP for the duration of the study and not have used an air cleaner in their home within the last 6 months.
On Day 1, each household will receive a PurpleAir indoor air quality monitor to measure PM2.5 levels in their home.
* For the first 30 days, the investigators will measure the home's normal air quality (baseline).
* After 30 days, each household will receive an air cleaner with information about how to best use it.
* At that point, a PM2.5 indicator light will be turned on for half of the PurpleAir monitors. For the other half, indicator light will be kept turned off. This helps the investigators study whether seeing the air quality in real time changes how people use the air cleaner.
* For the next 30 days, indoor PM2.5 levels will continue to be monitored. How often the air cleaner is used will also be tracked with smart plug data loggers.
* After 60 days, more training and support will be offered to all participants and monitoring will continue over the final 30 days of the study.
Who Is on the Research Team?
Chelsea V Preble, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of California, Berkeley
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for households in Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco, with at least one member aged 13 or older who has asthma or COPD. Participants must not have used an air cleaner in their home within the last 6 months and must be able to stay in the area during the study.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Air Cleaner
- Air Cleaner Technical Assistance
- Educational Materials
- PM2.5 Monitor with Visual Air Quality Indicator
Trial Overview
The study tests if using air cleaners (air purifiers), along with educational materials and real-time air quality monitors, can lower indoor pollution (PM2.5) and improve breathing health. Households are monitored over about 3-4 months.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Participants in this arm will have the visual air quality indicator on their PurpleAir particulate matter monitor turned on during Phase 2 of the study. This experimental arm will test how the use of an air quality monitor with a visual indicator in conjunction with an air cleaner may increase the use and effectiveness of the air cleaner.
Participants in this arm will have a PurpleAir particulate matter monitor with the visual air quality indicator turned off for the duration of the study. This will serve as the control to the experimental arm, representing air cleaner usage on its own and without an indoor air quality indicator.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of California, Berkeley
Lead Sponsor
California Air Resources Board
Collaborator
University of California, San Francisco
Collaborator
Brightline Defense Project
Collaborator
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