UC Merced

The San Joaquin valley (SJV) is known for having poor air quality and high rates of respiratory illnesses including asthma. This study was aimed to assess the perceptions about air quality of individuals who work outdoors in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Surveys were conducted with SJV residents (n = 198) to understand attitudes, perceptions of air quality, and behaviors related to air pollution of individuals who work outdoors. The results suggest that people who worry more about air quality tend to check air quality more often. It was found that individuals who suffer from asthma are more likely to check air quality when working and exercising outdoors. In addition, the differences on how people utilize informational sources regarding air quality were observed. Conclusion: Therefore, there is a need to further study attitudes and perceptions about air quality among populations who work outdoors.