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Cleary EG, Patton AP, Wu HC, et al. Making Air Pollution Visible: A Tool for Promoting Environmental Health Literacy. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3(2):e16doi: 10.2196/publichealth.7492.
Cleary, E. G., Patton, A. P., Wu, H. C., Xie, A., Stubblefield, J., Mass, W., Grinstein, G., Koch-Weser, S., Brugge, D., & Wong, C. (2017). Making Air Pollution Visible: A Tool for Promoting Environmental Health Literacy. JMIR public health and surveillance, 3(2), e16. https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.7492
Cleary, Ekaterina Galkina, et al. "Making Air Pollution Visible: A Tool for Promoting Environmental Health Literacy." JMIR public health and surveillance vol. 3,2 (2017): e16. doi: https://doi.org/10.2196/publichealth.7492
Cleary EG, Patton AP, Wu HC, Xie A, Stubblefield J, Mass W, Grinstein G, Koch-Weser S, Brugge D, Wong C. Making Air Pollution Visible: A Tool for Promoting Environmental Health Literacy. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017 Apr 12;3(2):e16. doi: 10.2196/publichealth.7492. PMID: 28404541; PMCID: PMC5406619.
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JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017 Apr 12;3(2):e16. doi: 10.2196/publichealth.7492.

Making Air Pollution Visible: A Tool for Promoting Environmental Health Literacy.

JMIR public health and surveillance

Ekaterina Galkina Cleary, Allison P Patton, Hsin-Ching Wu, Alan Xie, Joseph Stubblefield, William Mass, Georges Grinstein, Susan Koch-Weser, Doug Brugge, Carolyn Wong

Affiliations

  1. Center for Integration of Science and Industry, Bentley University, Waltham, MA, United States.
  2. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, United States.
  3. Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States.
  4. Institute for Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States.
  5. Computer Science Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, United States.
  6. Center for Data Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States.
  7. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
  8. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States.
  9. Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States.

PMID: 28404541 PMCID: PMC5406619 DOI: 10.2196/publichealth.7492

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Digital maps are instrumental in conveying information about environmental hazards geographically. For laypersons, computer-based maps can serve as tools to promote environmental health literacy about invisible traffic-related air pollution and ultrafine particles. Concentrations of these pollutants are higher near major roadways and increasingly linked to adverse health effects. Interactive computer maps provide visualizations that can allow users to build mental models of the spatial distribution of ultrafine particles in a community and learn about the risk of exposure in a geographic context.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to develop a new software tool appropriate for educating members of the Boston Chinatown community (Boston, MA, USA) about the nature and potential health risks of traffic-related air pollution. The tool, the Interactive Map of Chinatown Traffic Pollution ("Air Pollution Map" hereafter), is a prototype that can be adapted for the purpose of educating community members across a range of socioeconomic contexts.

METHODS: We built the educational visualization tool on the open source Weave software platform. We designed the tool as the centerpiece of a multimodal and intergenerational educational intervention about the health risk of traffic-related air pollution. We used a previously published fine resolution (20 m) hourly land-use regression model of ultrafine particles as the algorithm for predicting pollution levels and applied it to one neighborhood, Boston Chinatown. In designing the map, we consulted community experts to help customize the user interface to communication styles prevalent in the target community.

RESULTS: The product is a map that displays ultrafine particulate concentrations averaged across census blocks using a color gradation from white to dark red. The interactive features allow users to explore and learn how changing meteorological conditions and traffic volume influence ultrafine particle concentrations. Users can also select from multiple map layers, such as a street map or satellite view. The map legends and labels are available in both Chinese and English, and are thus accessible to immigrants and residents with proficiency in either language. The map can be either Web or desktop based.

CONCLUSIONS: The Air Pollution Map incorporates relevant language and landmarks to make complex scientific information about ultrafine particles accessible to members of the Boston Chinatown community. In future work, we will test the map in an educational intervention that features intergenerational colearning and the use of supplementary multimedia presentations.

©Ekaterina Galkina Cleary, Allison P Patton, Hsin-Ching Wu, Alan Xie, Joseph Stubblefield, William Mass, Georges Grinstein, Susan Koch-Weser, Doug Brugge, Carolyn Wong. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (http://publichealth.jmir.org), 12.04.2017.

Keywords: air pollution; computer visualization; computer-based education; digital cartography; environmental health; environmental health literacy; health communication; immigrant education; ultrafine particles

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