Assessing the feasibility of indoor air quality monitoring in low-income housing among Black adults with uncontrolled asthma in New York City

Background Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a critical role in respiratory health, particularly among individuals with asthma. This study evaluated the feasibility of collecting and characterizing IAQ in the homes of Black adults with uncontrolled asthma in New York City. Methods Home environmental audits were conducted at the time that ultrasonic personal air sampling (UPAS v2+) devices were deployed, which continuously collected both time-resolved and integrated air samples over an initial target runtime of two-weeks based on the amp-hours of the external battery. Post-trial interviews were conducted. Results Thirty devices were successfully deployed and returned; all but five provided sufficient data for analysis for getting a multi-day exposure estimates defined as more than 6 consecutive days of data) for analysis. Average runtime was 13.4 days and mean gravimetric PM 2.5 was 72 µg/m 3 which is double the Environmental Protection Agency’s cutoff of 35.5 µg/m 3 , a 24-hour average used to assess exposure and risk. Exposure to household environmental triggers was common. Study procedures were acceptable to participants, demonstrating the feasibility of collecting indoor air samples in apartments of adults with uncontrolled asthma. Conclusions Elevated indoor PM 2.5 levels and frequent exposure to environmental triggers were common and may contribute to poor asthma control. Trial registration This feasibility study was conducted in NYC, New York, as an administrative supplement to a randomized controlled trial (RCT) (#NCT05685381; registered 1/5/23).