Associations between indoor air pollution and inflammation in children: evaluation of the current literature and recommendations to explore the roles of nutrition, housing inequities, and environmental health literacy in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Oloo, Alice Achieng

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129263 Copy

Description

Title

Associations between indoor air pollution and inflammation in children: evaluation of the current literature and recommendations to explore the roles of nutrition, housing inequities, and environmental health literacy in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Author(s)

Oloo, Alice Achieng

Issue Date

2025-05-08

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Martenies, Sheena

Department of Study

Health and Kinesiology

Discipline

Community Health

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Indoor air pollution
• inflammation
• children
• affordable housing
• low income

Abstract

Indoor air pollution is (IAP) is underexplored in research compared to outdoor air pollution even though it contributes significantly to the global burden of disease, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and low-income families. This thesis explores the current literature on the association between indoor air exposures and inflammatory biomarkers in children as well as the roles that housing inequities and environmental health literacy play in addressing exposure to IAP. To evaluate the current literature on the associations between IAP and biomarkers of inflammation in children, a scoping review of the literature was conducted. This review, which was done in accordance with established guidelines, focused on studies published in the last 20 years and that measured IAPs and inflammatory biomarkers in children under 18 years of age. In total, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. More than half of these studies indicated positive associations between IAP and inflammatory biomarkers. Dietary influences on these associations were examined in only a few studies; however, the findings suggests that anti-inflammatory nutrients such as omega-fatty acids can mitigate inflammation, whereas pro-inflammatory nutrients may exacerbate IAP-related inflammation. This thesis then extends the discussion by examining the social and environmental determinants of IAP in socially disadvantaged group, particularly residents of affordable housing. Residents in affordable housing often face increased exposures risks substandard housing, low health literacy, income and limited access to health information. This thesis therefore highlights the potential of informal education interventions specifically data report-back method as a tool for improving environmental health literacy (EHL) to empower communities to reduce indoor air pollutants. Recommendations for future research include the use of personal portable air monitors to capture real-time individualized exposures since people tend to move from one indoor environment to another and exposures vary according to building characteristics. This thesis also recommends integrating social determinants of health into exposure studies and emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary and equity-centered strategies to reduce IAP. 

Graduation Semester

2025-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129263

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2025 Alice Oloo

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