Blog
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Reducing Air Pollution and Exposure Can Save San Joaquin Valley Residents Millions
The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is one of the most polluted regions in the US, where air pollution exacerbates respiratory issues like asthma, contributing to significant health and economic burdens. In a study published in April 2024, in the Journal of Asthma and Allergy, researchers analyzed data from 2016 to assess the costs of ozone (O₃),…
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Community Health Workers Connecting Home, School, Healthcare Systems, and the Community to Improve Asthma
A study, funded by the National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, was conducted to determine if a community health worker (CHW) intervention to connect the primary care, home, and school for low-income, minority school-aged children with asthma and their caregivers improves asthma control. In Philadelphia, a randomized clinical trial followed 626 participants over…
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EPA’s Updated Ventilation and Respiratory Virus Guidance
The EPA has released updated guidance on indoor air quality (IAQ) strategies for preventing the spread of common respiratory viruses in homes, schools, offices, and commercial buildings. In addition to the virus that causes COVID-19, there are many other types of airborne respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, that can spread more easily…
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Video Series Aims at Improving Indoor Air Quality
Improving indoor air quality is the goal of a video series developed by experts at the University of California, Davis in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health. Released in late 2024, the videos distill the science of air quality into concrete steps that people can take to remove pollutants from the place we…
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Applications Open for EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program; Deadlines Vary
In December 2023, the EPA selected 11 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmakers to receive $600 million to serve as pass-through entities nationwide through the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program cooperative agreements. The awards are intended for community-based organizations and other eligible organizations to support the planning, assessment, and development of community-based environmental justice projects.…
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RAMP CHW Meeting: Outdoor Air Pollution and Asthma
On November 4, 2024, the RAMP CHW Meeting focused on Outdoor Air Pollution and Asthma, presented by Dayane Dueñas Barahona and Zander Silverman with the USC Keck School of Medicine’s Environmental Justice Research Lab in the Department of Population and Public Health. View the meeting recording here. For more information, reach out to Anne Kelsey Lamb…
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RAMP CHW Meeting: Work-Related Asthma
On October 22nd, RAMP hosted a CHW meeting on Work-Related Asthma, presented by Jennifer Flattery, Chief, Occupational Health Tracking Unit, Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance Program, Work-related Asthma Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health. You can view the recording here. For more information, reach out to Anne Kelsey Lamb at anne@rampasthma.org.
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EPA Funds RAMP to Continue to Build and Sustain Home-Based Asthma Services
We’re pleased to share that RAMP and our partners at the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) will continue to offer free technical assistance (TA) and training to states and communities across the country to expand and sustain in-home environmental asthma interventions as part of a new 3-year Cooperative Agreement with the US Environmental Protection…
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Study on How Low-Cost Air Cleaners Can Meaningfully Improve Indoor Air Quality
Air cleaners can reduce indoor exposure to fine particulate matter during wildfire smoke events, but cost and availability often limit access to commercial devices or high-rated filters for DIY solutions. In August 2024, researchers developed and tested affordable DIY air cleaners using common household fabrics to address this issue. In the journal, Science and Technology…
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Literature Review Reveals the Effects of Climate and Environmental Factors on Childhood Asthma
In the August 2024 edition of the Science of the Total Environment, researchers report on a systematic literature review they conducted to assess the epidemiological evidence using spatial and temporal methods on the impact of climate and environmental factors on childhood asthma. The findings reveal that “extreme weather events, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall, elevate…
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EPA’s New and Improved Emergencies and Indoor Air Quality Website
The EPA recently shared its new Emergencies and Indoor Air Quality website where individuals can learn to protect themselves as well as their IAQ before, during, and after emergencies. This website shares information about wildfires, floods, power outages, extreme heat, winter weather, and more. People spend most of their time indoors and rely on indoor…
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The Dual Threat: Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat
The increased frequency and severity of recent wildfire smoke events has had a major impact on those with asthma, severely limiting their activities and increasing the risk of asthma exacerbations, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. In response, RAMP has created a range of tools to help support people with asthma prepare for and limit the…