A M ULTI -F ACETED A PPROACH TO I MPROVING IAQ IN R URAL A
LASKA H OMES Presented By: Lacey Walsh, REHS 2015 National Tribal
Forum on Air Quality
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I NTRODUCTION Who we are The Alaska Native Tribal Health
Consortium (ANTHC) Largest tribally managed health organization in
the nation Vision: Alaska Native people are the healthiest people
in the world Mission: Providing the highest quality health services
in partnership with our people and the Alaska Tribal Health
System
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R ESPIRATORY H EALTH Alaska Native children have some of the
highest rates of respiratory illness ever documented Causes Poor
indoor air quality Lack of in-home piped water services
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B ACKGROUND Alaska Native/American Indian children bear a high
burden of respiratory disease (1.6 xs that of general US child
rate) Among AN/AI children, infants carry highest burden Among all
AN/AI children, Alaska Natives suffer from the highest rates of
respiratory disease
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B ACKGROUND Lower respiratory tract infection associated
hospitalizations for Alaska Native children: 3 Xs that of general
US children rate (
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T HE P ROBLEM ANTHC Environmental Health received a request
from a pulmonologist and created healthy homes study to determine
the relationship between the home environment and childrens
respiratory health Our goal is to improve the respiratory health of
Alaska Native children, and provide a model to be used in
indigenous communities throughout North America
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S HAPING A P ROJECT The home is an environment and it can have
an effect you and your familys health Following 7 principles can
help improve the health of you, your family, and your home
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W HAT ARE THE 7 P RINCIPLES ? 1. Contaminant-Free 2. Ventilated
3. Dry 4. Safe 5. Maintained 6. Clean 7. Pest-Free
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S TEPS Identify homes with children that have chronic
respiratory illness Children 1-12 yrs with 4 or more clinic visits
OR 1 respiratory hospitalization in the previous year Assess the
home Modify the home to improve air quality Monitor air quality
before and after modification Promote behavior changes
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H OME S ELECTION Determine which communities meet criteria for
chronic respiratory illness Select two communities based on Tribal
interest and need Receive consent to perform the study from the
Tribe Contact eligible households
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H OME A SSESSMENT ANTHC and Regional Health Corporation Staff,
along with Housing Authority Staff Members, assess each home
Inadequate ventilation, leaky woodstove, moisture problems Identify
water use Identify risky behaviors The resident, housing personnel,
environmental health personnel determine a scope of work
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A IR S AMPLING Particulate Matter 2.5 Volatile Organic
Compounds Carbon Dioxide Temperature Relative Humidity Carbon
Monoxide
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N EW AND / OR I MPROVED V ENTS Ventilation intake plugged with
a rag New ventilation intake
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C OOKING S TOVE E XHAUSTS I NSTALLED Cooking stove with no
range exhaust Cooking stove with a new range exhaust
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W OODSTOVE R EPLACEMENT New EPA-certified, low-emission
woodstove Old woodstove
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M EASURING THE I NTERVENTIONS Home Modifications (2 weeks after
modifications) Improving Ventilation Replacing Heating Devices
Remediating excessive moisture damage Education (1 year after
modifications) Providing report cards of IAQ data from each home
Respiratory Therapist Visit Postcards, Phone Calls, Site
Visits
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T HANK Y OU AJ Salkoski Email: [email protected] Phone:
907-729-4518 Lacey Walsh, REHS Email: [email protected] Phone:
907-729-5609 ANTHC Environmental Health
