Lydia Scheidler and Alyssa Peirce, “Dangerous Air Pollution in University Student Housing”

Mentor: Rose Hennessy Garza, Public Health

Poster #

Air pollution is defined as particulate matter that can have detrimental effects on the lungs and overall health. This is an issue that especially affects college students as they are less likely to be familiar with issues concerning housing and resolving them. Air pollution is extremely dangerous and can cause a variety of negative health effects. The purpose of this research will be to use evidence and theory to develop a public health program to address air pollution in University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students’ housing. A program will be developed to assess the community using an informal literature review. This program will use intervention mapping to plan a program that is based in theory and evidence-based strategies. The hypothetical program would aim to reduce the prevalence of air pollution, specifically particulate matter, within student residences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The program will synthesize findings to include a community engagement plan and a logic model. Evidence-based strategies will be utilized to address this issue. Basing public health programs in theory and evidence helps public health practice by giving information and data on the selected populations to tailor these programs to specific needs. Stakeholders and community members must be involved in the program creation process to ensure that this program is accepted and upheld. Future public health programming should consider that students attending schools in urban areas are much more likely to experience poor health caused by air pollution in housing than those in non-urban areas. Improving air quality would benefit the health of university students.