Self-assessment adaptive capacity indicators of health risks from air pollution

Abstract

This research proposes a set of 12 self-assessed air pollution adaptive capacity (APAC) indicators to determine and mitigate individual-level air pollution-related health risks. In the study, the APAC indicators were first statistically validated based on data from panels of experts using structural equation modeling. The validated indicators were subsequently transformed into a questionnaire to measure the individual-level APAC index. For ease of interpretation, the APAC index was converted into an APAC grade. The APAC grade was compared against the grading criteria based on Air Quality Index (AQI) levels to assess the individual-level health risks from air pollution. The proposed APAC-based self-assessment program to determine the individual-level health impacts from air pollution could be adopted as an economical and efficient alternative to costly and complicated clinical assessment.