Smoke Sense Initiative Leverages Citizen Science to Address the Growing Wildfire‐Related Public Health Problem

Rappold, Ana G.; Hano, Mary Clare; Prince, Steven E.; Wei, Linda; Sen-wei, Huang; Baghdikian, Christina; Stearns, Barry; Gao, Xing; Hoshiko, Sumi; Cascio, Wayne E.; Díaz-Sánchez, David; Hubbell, Bryan

doi:10.1029/2019gh000199

Cited by 56 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Our key finding-that apps with features such as AirRater can reduce smoke exposure and support health management during poor air quality events-is potentially generalizable across regions where landscape fire smoke poses a potential health risk. For example, this has been demonstrated by the Smoke Sense app in the United States [36]. However, these regions must have robust, supported and widely distributed air quality monitoring networks and a reliable population-wide internet connection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Digital Technology to Protect Health in Prolonged Poor Air Quality Episodes: A Case Study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019–20 Fires

Campbell

Jones

Williamson

et al. 2020

Fire

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In the southern hemisphere summer of 2019–20, Australia experienced its most severe bushfire season on record. Smoke from fires affected 80% of the population, with large and prolonged exceedances of the Australian National Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) recorded in all major population centers. We examined if AirRater, a free smartphone app that reports air quality and tracks user symptoms in near real-time, assisted those populations to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their health. We distributed an online survey to over 13,000 AirRater users to assess how they used this information during the 2019–20 bushfire season, and why it was helpful to aid decision-making in reducing personal smoke exposure. We received responses from 1732 users (13.3%). Respondents reported the app was highly useful, supporting informed decision-making regarding daily activities during the smoke-affected period. Commonly reported activities supported by information provided through the app were staying inside (76%), rescheduling or planning outdoor activities (64%), changing locations to less affected areas (29%) and informing decisions on medication use (15%). Innovative and easy-to-use smartphone apps such as AirRater, that provide individual-level and location-specific data, can enable users to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards and therefore protect their health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Digital Technology to Protect Health in Prolonged Poor Air Quality Episodes: A Case Study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019–20 Fires

Campbell

Jones

Williamson

et al. 2020

Fire

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“…As smartphones are becoming ubiquitous, public and environmental health programs are beginning to leverage apps as platforms for services like health risk communication. It is therefore not a surprise therefore that Smoke Sense and similar efforts have been attracting strong interest among those affected by smoke (17). However, it is equally important to understand how individuals engage with health risk messaging delivered through mobile apps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participants can explore current and forecast air quality, learn about the status of wildfires, visualize the extent of smoke exposure, learn about what air quality means to their health, and get tips on how to protect their health. Participants are also invited to report their observations of smoke, current health symptoms, and health behaviors taken in response to smoke (17,18). Findings from the pilot season, August 1, 2017 through January 7, 2018, indicated a strong demand for personally relevant data during wildfire smoke events (17).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Participants are also invited to report their observations of smoke, current health symptoms, and health behaviors taken in response to smoke (17,18). Findings from the pilot season, August 1, 2017 through January 7, 2018, indicated a strong demand for personally relevant data during wildfire smoke events (17). Rappold (17) reported that most of the users clearly recognized smoke as a health risk and as an environmental hazard.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings from the pilot season, August 1, 2017 through January 7, 2018, indicated a strong demand for personally relevant data during wildfire smoke events (17). Rappold (17) reported that most of the users clearly recognized smoke as a health risk and as an environmental hazard. During the pilot season, over 80% of user-reported smoke observations matched satellite-based measures of smoke.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowing Your Audience: A Typology of Smoke Sense Participants to Inform Wildfire Smoke Health Risk Communication

Hano

Prince

Wei

et al. 2020

Front. Public Health

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Central to public health risk communication is understanding the perspectives and shared values among individuals who need the information. Using the responses from a Smoke Sense citizen science project, we examined perspectives on the issue of wildfire smoke as a health risk in relation to an individual's preparedness to adopt recommended health behaviors. The Smoke Sense smartphone application provides wildfire-related health risk resources and invites participants to record their perspectives on the issue of wildfire smoke. Within the app, participants can explore current and forecasted daily air quality, maps of fire locations, satellite images of smoke plumes, and learn about health consequences of wildfire smoke. We used cluster analysis to identify perspective trait-clusters based on health status, experience with fire smoke, risk perception, self-efficacy, access to exposure-reducing resources, health information needs, and openness to health risk messaging. Differences between traits were examined based on demographics, health status, activity level and engagement with the app. We mapped these traits to the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM) to indicate where each trait lies in adopting recommended health behaviors. Finally, we suggest messaging strategies that may be suitable for each trait. We determined five distinct perspective traits which included individuals who were Protectors and have decided to engage on the issue by adopting new behaviors to protect their health; Cautious, Proactive, and Susceptible individuals who were at a Deciding stage but differed based on risk perceptions and information needs; and the Unengaged who did not perceive smoke as a health issue and were unlikely to change behavior in response to messaging. Across all five traits, the level of engagement and information needs differed substantially, but were not defined by demographics. Individuals in the Susceptible trait had the highest level of engagement and the highest information needs. Messaging that emphasizes self-efficacy and benefits of reducing exposure may be effective in motivating individuals from the deciding stage to taking health protective action. Shared perspectives define an individual's propensity for acting on recommended health behaviors, therefore, health risk message content should be tailored based on these perspectives.

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Human Mobility to Parks under the COVID-19 Pandemic and Wildfire Seasons in the Western and Central United States

Yang

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The year 2020 saw the confluence of two major crises, that is, the COVID-19 pandemic and the extensive, severe wildfires in August-September, impacting people's health and wellbeing in western and central United States. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly known as COV-ID-19, was initially detected in Wuhan, China, and has widely spread across the globe (Zhu et al., 2020). On

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Smoke Sense Initiative Leverages Citizen Science to Address the Growing Wildfire‐Related Public Health Problem

Cited by 56 publications

References 35 publications

Using Digital Technology to Protect Health in Prolonged Poor Air Quality Episodes: A Case Study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019–20 Fires

Using Digital Technology to Protect Health in Prolonged Poor Air Quality Episodes: A Case Study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019–20 Fires

Knowing Your Audience: A Typology of Smoke Sense Participants to Inform Wildfire Smoke Health Risk Communication

Human Mobility to Parks under the COVID-19 Pandemic and Wildfire Seasons in the Western and Central United States

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