1014- Peru- Long-term Effects of a household Air Pollution intervention: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Globally, nearly 3 billion people are exposed to household air pollution (HAP) from the use of solid fuels (biomass or coal) for cooking and heating. In 2019, HAP accounted for an estimated 2.3 million premature deaths and 3.6% of global disability-adjusted life years lost. As a strategy to mitigate HAP and improve health outcomes, we recently completed an 18-month intervention of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stoves and fuel, however current evidence suggests that the health benefits of HAP reduction may not become apparent until several years later. Leveraging the participant cohort and comprehensive data collected in the HAPIN trial, we seek to determine the long-term effects of an 18-month LPG stove, continuous fuel and behavioral messaging intervention on health outcomes among children in Puno, Peru. We will measure clinical outcomes, kitchen concentrations and personal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) once yearly and monitor biomass cooking stoves continuously using temperature loggers throughout the study period. We will examine whether health outcomes of intervention participants (lung function, cardiovascular risk profile, and neurodevelopmental outcomes) differ to those from control households through age eight and conduct exposure-response analyses based on the PM2.5 exposure and stove use data during the intervention and subsequent follow-up period. Additionally, we will evaluate if intervention households continue to use LPG for a higher percentage of cooking time than controls and to experience lower PM2.5 exposures. This study will provide valuable insight on the longer-term effects of HAP mitigation during a critical period of child development and generate evidence which can inform government policies for clean fuel intervention programs. Moreover, it will contribute unique data on pediatric lung function measures and childhood cardiovascular disease risk, which is currently limited in low- and middle-income countries.

Students participating in this project will work with our field team to collect exposure and health outcome data in study participants (children aged ~3-5 years). They will provide oversight of research activities and review data collected. Students will also have the opportunity to work on ambient air pollution data collection, quality control and analysis from multiple devices (low-cost nephelometric sensors, optical particle counters, combined gravimetric and nephelometric near-reference samplers).

collaborative. The student will be working closely with the local field team and will join the weekly virtual meetings with the entire team to discuss progress and any issues that arise in the field. Students will also have the opportunity to work with other fellows/students on site.

is interested in environmental health, chronic diseases, field epidemiology.

Name: Laura Nicolaou, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, l.nicolaou@jhu.edu

I would describe my communication and mentorship styles as... 

My communication style is direct and attentive. I tailor my mentorship style to the needs of the student: I am more hands-on with students who prefer/require more guidance and provide more independence to those who prefer self-directed learning. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise with students who are eager to learn. I have weekly one-on-one meetings with my mentees. In these meetings, we typically review the mentee’s progress, set work objectives for the following week and spend time on particular aspects of the work the mentee would like guidance on. If students have any questions/concerns in between meetings, they can reach out to me through WhatsApp or email.

A complementary student would have a working style and mentorship expectations that are..

A complementary student would be someone communicative, detail-oriented, excited to gain experience in exposure assessment and field epidemiology.

Total: $300/month
Food: $300/month
Free student accommodation is provided within the office building; local transportation for participant visits will be provided.