Tianjun Lu Pilot Scope: Investigating Indoor Air Pollution's Impact on Adolescent Sleep in Appalachian Kentucky

Abstract Sleep health is a critical but often overlooked determinant of adolescent well-being, with implications for cognitive development, emotional regulation, and long-term physical health. Indoor air pollution, driven by poor ventilation, outdated infrastructure, outdoor infiltration, and combustion-based heating, is a modifiable factor that may significantly impact sleep health. However, few studies have examined how real-time, multi-pollutant exposures in both school and home environments affect adolescent sleep, particularly in underserved, rural regions. This pilot project will investigate how indoor air pollution in classrooms, dining areas, bedrooms, and living spaces impacts adolescent sleep health among 30 high school students in Perry County, Kentucky. We will collect high-resolution indoor air quality data, including PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, CO, SO2, CO2, temperature, and humidity. Sleep health will be assessed using both ActiGraph LEAP sleep watches and validated self-reported sleep surveys. A youth-led citizen science framework will be employed to train students in environmental data collection and interpretation, while pre- and post-assessments will evaluate changes in environmental health literacy and scientific engagement.