Communication channels for air quality alerts in the United States

Abstract

Short-term exposure to air pollution can result in acute health effects, particularly for individuals with respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Air quality alert programs that notify the public about high air pollution days are critical for susceptible populations. We assessed how U.S. adults receive air quality alerts and whether it varies by demographic or health characteristics. We analyzed data from the summer 2014 wave of ConsumerStyles, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults ( n = 4269). We calculated the weighted proportion of individuals who received air quality alerts from seven communication channels, combining all individuals and stratifying by demographics. To assess whether the reach of communication channels varied by respiratory and cardiovascular disease status, we computed weighted prevalence ratios adjusted for sex, age, race, and education. Forty-eight percent of U.S. adults had heard about air quality alerts. Within every demographic category, television was the most common communication channel (76% among individuals aware of air quality alerts). Other common communication modes were radio (30%), newspaper (24%), and internet (20%). Less common communication modes were friend or family member, mobile phone or device app, and electronic highway sign. The reach of communication channels varied by demographic factors, such as age, but not by respiratory or cardiovascular disease status. Television is the most common communication channel for receiving air quality alerts. Expanding use of other communication channels might increase awareness of air quality alerts. These results can help decision-makers target communication channels that reach susceptible populations and will achieve the greatest impact.

Communication channels for receiving air quality alerts among adults in the United States

“…Air quality alerts on television reached the largest percentage of U.S. adults, reaching more than half of U.S. adults aware of air quality alerts. This is consistent with findings from 2014 ConsumerStyles data, although the proportion reporting this channel decreased from 76% to 58% ( Pennington et al, 2019 ). Declines in proportions receiving air quality alerts via television were especially pronounced for certain demographic groups, including non-Hispanic Black adults; among this group, the proportion receiving alerts via television decreased from 91% in 2014 ( Pennington et al, 2019 ) to 33% in 2020.…”

“…This is consistent with findings from 2014 ConsumerStyles data, although the proportion reporting this channel decreased from 76% to 58% ( Pennington et al, 2019 ). Declines in proportions receiving air quality alerts via television were especially pronounced for certain demographic groups, including non-Hispanic Black adults; among this group, the proportion receiving alerts via television decreased from 91% in 2014 ( Pennington et al, 2019 ) to 33% in 2020. In contrast, we found that air quality alerts via an app on a mobile phone or device reached the second largest percentage of U.S. adults at 30% in 2020 compared with less than 6% in 2014 ( Pennington et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Similar to the findings of the analysis using 2014 ConsumerStyles data ( Pennington et al, 2019 ), we observed more variation in communication channels used to receive air quality alerts by demographic characteristics than by health characteristics. Compared with adults without respiratory disease, adults with respiratory disease more often reported receiving air quality alerts from their doctor's office.…”

“…Declines in proportions receiving air quality alerts via television were especially pronounced for certain demographic groups, including non-Hispanic Black adults; among this group, the proportion receiving alerts via television decreased from 91% in 2014 ( Pennington et al, 2019 ) to 33% in 2020. In contrast, we found that air quality alerts via an app on a mobile phone or device reached the second largest percentage of U.S. adults at 30% in 2020 compared with less than 6% in 2014 ( Pennington et al, 2019 ). In 2020, the proportion of 18- to 29-year-olds using an app on their mobile phone or device to receive alerts surpassed the proportion using television, and proportions of non-Hispanic Black adults and 30- to 44-year-olds using an app to receive alerts were similar to proportions using television.…”

“…Recent information about which communication channels are most effective for disseminating air quality alerts is limited. We aimed to build on a previous analysis of 2014 population-based ConsumerStyles survey data that explored how U.S. adults receive air quality alerts ( Pennington et al, 2019 ). In this analysis by Pennington et al, television was the most common communication channel for receiving these alerts, while alerts via digital media channels such as the internet and apps on a mobile phone or device reached fewer than one-fifth of adults who had received air quality alerts.…”