Full Citation
Title: Managing Air Pollution Risk Through Participatory Air Quality Sensing
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2023
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Abstract: United States environmental agencies monitor ambient fine particulate matter (i.e., PM2.5). These activities are limited by sparse network coverage and no indoor monitoring. This leaves the public without full knowledge of exposures. Emergent nonregulatory air quality monitoring networks (NAQMNs) comprised of low-cost PM2.5 sensors can address uncertain exposures and facilitate health-protective decision-making. My dissertation assesses social disparities in Salt Lake County (SLCo), Utah’s NAQMN and sensor use among families impacted by asthma and is oriented by an environmental justice (EJ) perspective emphasizing the disproportionate environmental burdens experienced by disadvantaged groups. Chapter 2 investigates how social inequalities in access to sensors in SLCo census tracts vary based on the purchaser (i.e., university versus private). Results show that higher-income and more polluted tracts have increased sensors per resident. Findings related to income attenuate when predicting university-purchased sensors versus privately-purchased sensors per capita. Tracts with greater Hispanic/Latino/a immigrant populations have increased access to university-purchased sensors. Tracts with greater Asian composition are underserved by the NAQMN regardless of purchaser. Then, I deployed PM2.5 sensors to families impacted by asthma to examine how participatory sensing influenced their exposure experiences. Chapter 3 results reveal ecosocial histories, senses, and health effects shaped parents’ outdoor PM2.5 perceptions and engagement with sensors. Indoors, parents uncovered seemingly invisible PM2.5 while cooking but remained confused about exposure-related health impacts. Further, parents deemed the indoor sensor an effective tool while observing outdoor sensor readings less frequently. Income was not associated with identifying PM2.5, but lower-income parents preferred the indoor sensor, while higher-income parents were more likely to observe patterns in outdoor sensor readings. Chapter 4 results indicate lower-income households were exposed to greater PM2.5 than higher-income households. Income was associated with parents’ ability to engage in responsive actions (to mitigate exposures and protect health). Lower-income families had less engagement with indoor and outdoor responsive actions than higherincome households. Checking sensor readings elicited emotional reactions among parents. The results of this dissertation have EJ implications related to an uneven distribution of NAQMN sensors, potentially overlooked exposures to ambient PM2.5 pollution, and a cumulative burden on lower-income households regarding exposures and responsive actions.
Url: https://www-proquest-com.ezp3.lib.umn.edu/docview/2875738333?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true
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Authors: Mullen, Casey Jo
Institution: University of Utah
Department: Sociology
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Pages: 1-250
Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS
Topics: Health, Natural Resource Management
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