Asthma Intervention: A Pilot Study In Public Housing

Life Sciences & Biotechnology Update, Feb, 2001

This (Tufts University; Harvard School of Public Health; Boston Medical Center; Committee for Boston Public Housing) joint report presents baseline data and lessons learned about conducting asthma research in public housing. Nine families with asthmatic children living in a public housing development in Boston are enrolled in an asthma intervention program, which is aimed at reducing environmental factors associated with their housing. Interventions are tailored to each residence. Given the small sample size, the purpose of the study is twofold: (1) to document lessons that would make future studies and programs directed at childhood asthma among public housing residents more successful; and (2) to collect a high density of environmental measurements of biological and chemical contaminants and physical factors, in order to generate hypotheses about possible asthma intervention programs for public housing.

Visual observation suggests that overheating, cockroaches, moisture problems, mice, and overcrowding, are common. Used upholstered furniture and multiple mattresses, both in the child's room and slept in by the child, are found. Quantitative assessments show: high temperatures; very low relative humidity in February; high levels of cockroach antigen; relatively moderate levels of other antigens; variable levels of viable fungal spores; and elevated nitrogen dioxide levels. It is concluded that the levels of environmental contaminants are largely similar to other such reports.

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