Effects of environmental health literacy-based interventions on indoor air quality and urinary concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and cotinine: A randomized controlled trial

Indoor air pollution (IAP) caused by particulate matter (PM), aromatic and volatile chemicals is one of the leading causes of adverse reproductive health effects, such as infertility, decreased gestational age, and low birth weight. It is well documented that environmental health literacy (EHL) can promote reductions in IAP and the level of environmental pollutants in the body. We conducted randomized control trial to evaluate the effect of EHL-based intervention on the indoor air quality and urinary levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and cotinine in reproductive aged women in Korea. The concentration of indoor PM2.5, PM10, CO2, and total VOCs (measured with a personal air quality monitoring device) as well as the urinary concentrations of PAHs, VOCs, and cotinine were measured in an experimental (n = 32) and control group (n = 31). The geometric mean concentrations of 2-NAP, tt-MA, and cotinine were 4.74, 82.82, and 0.60 mu g/L respectively. The EHL intervention resulted in significant differences between experimental and control groups in the level of tt-MA (z =-1.44, p = .031), cotinine (z =-1.07, p = .015) in urine and PM2.5 (z = 56.39, p < .01), PM10 (z = 57.85, p < .01), CO2 (z = 8.92, p < .01), and total VOCs (z = 10.11, p < .01) of indoor air, and the mean score of EHL (z = 6.30, p < .01). Our results show the value in developing EHL interventions to reduce exposure to air pollutants originating from indoor activity and daily-life materials. Further studies are required to find ways to optimize general EHL for use in populations around the world.