Journal of Health Communication
Volume 24, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 339-358

Visualizing Air Pollution: Communication of Environmental Health Information in a Chinese Immigrant Community (Article)

Wong C.* , Wu H.-C. , Cleary E.G. , Patton A.P. , Xie A. , Grinstein G. , Koch-Weser S. , Brugge D.
  • a Institute for Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, United States
  • b Institute for Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, United States, Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, United States
  • c Center for Integration of Science and Industry, Bentley University, Waltham, United States
  • d Health Effects Institute, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Institute for Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, United States
  • f Center for Data Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst Center, United States
  • g Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
  • h Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, United States, Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University, Medford, United States

Abstract

This study developed and evaluated a visual approach to promoting environmental health literacy about highway pollution. The Interactive Map of Chinatown Traffic Pollution was the centerpiece of a communication approach designed to make complex scientific information about traffic-related air pollution comprehensible to Chinese immigrants with limited English proficiency. The map enabled visualization of the spatial distribution of ultrafine particles (less than 100 nanometers in diameter), a toxic and invisible form of air pollution, in Boston Chinatown. A university-community partnership enabled design of intergenerational training sessions aimed toward empowering community members to take health-promoting actions that reduce exposure to ultrafine particulate pollution. A mixed methods approach was taken to evaluation. Nine high school youth learned to use the map and then tutored adults recruited from English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and from a community workshop. Seventy-three of these adults completed a pre-post survey measuring change in three domains: pollution knowledge, attitudes toward environmental issues, and self-efficacy in using maps. Adult participants demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all three domains (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, all p < 0.01). Seventeen adults and nine youth participated in interviews. Interview participants reported adjusting daily routines to reduce exposure to pollution. ©, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant high school Massachusetts human controlled study interview air pollution male female juvenile self concept Article literacy major clinical study adult human experiment traffic pollution highway Wilcoxon signed ranks test English as a second language environmental health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85065082074&doi=10.1080%2f10810730.2019.1597949&partnerID=40&md5=b43cb9913b36952a382493f6b618c068
DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2019.1597949
ISSN: 10810730
Original Language: English