Adaptation Resources and Responses to Wildfire Smoke and Other Forms of Air Pollution in Low-Income Urban Settings: A Mixed-Methods Study

Lawrence A. Palinkas (), Jessenia De Leon, Kexin Yu, Erika Salinas, Cecilia Fernandez, Jill Johnston, Md Mostafijur Rahman, Sam J. Silva, Michael Hurlburt, Rob S. McConnell and Erika Garcia
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Lawrence A. Palinkas: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Jessenia De Leon: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Kexin Yu: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Erika Salinas: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Cecilia Fernandez: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Jill Johnston: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Md Mostafijur Rahman: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Sam J. Silva: Department of Earth Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Michael Hurlburt: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Rob S. McConnell: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Erika Garcia: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Little is known about how low-income residents of urban communities engage their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and resources to mitigate the health impacts of wildfire smoke and other forms of air pollution. We interviewed 40 adults in Los Angeles, California, to explore their threat assessments of days of poor air quality, adaptation resources and behaviors, and the impacts of air pollution and wildfire smoke on physical and mental health. Participants resided in census tracts that were disproportionately burdened by air pollution and socioeconomic vulnerability. All participants reported experiencing days of poor air quality due primarily to wildfire smoke. Sixty percent received advanced warnings of days of poor air quality or routinely monitored air quality via cell phone apps or news broadcasts. Adaptation behaviors included remaining indoors, circulating indoor air, and wearing face masks when outdoors. Most (82.5%) of the participants reported some physical or mental health problem or symptom during days of poor air quality, but several indicated that symptom severity was mitigated by their adaptive behaviors. Although low-income residents perceive themselves to be at risk for the physical and mental health impacts of air pollution, they have also adapted to that risk with limited resources.

Keywords: air pollution; wildfire smoke; climate change; adaptation behaviors; health effects; health equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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