National-Scale Activity Survey - Debriefing

OMB Control Number 2060-XXXX

Approval Expires xx/xx/xxxx

Debriefing Survey

1. When you think about air pollution, do you consider any of the following air pollution?

   1. pollen from plants

      1. yes

      2. no

      3. don’t know

   2. smoke from a wood fire

      1. yes

      2. no

      3. don’t know

   3. dust from a construction site or other open area

      1. YES

      2. NO

      3. don’t know

   4. smoke from factories

      1. Yes

      2. No

      3. Don’t know

   5. exhaust from cars and trucks

      1. yes

      2. no

      3. don’t know

In this survey, when we say air pollution we are not talking about pollen.

2. Overall, how would you rate the level of air quality in [name of metro area]? Would you say it is excellent, good, fair, poor or very poor?

   1. excellent [skip to Q5]

   2. good

   3. fair

   4. poor

   5. very poor

3. Please rate the level of air quality in [insert name of metro area] during each season. [if all excellent, skip to Q5]

	Excellent	good	fair	poor	Very poor
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

4. In some cities, air quality may be different in different parts of the city. Do you think the air quality in the neighborhood where you live is better, worse or about the same as the rest of the [name of city]?

   1. Better

   2. Worse

   3. About the same

   4. Don’t know

5. Have you ever lived somewhere else that had episodes of high air pollution?

   1. yes

   2. no

   3. don’t know

6. In your opinion, can air pollution have an impact on a person’s life or the quality of their life?

   1. Air pollution can have a big impact

   2. Air pollution can have a moderate impact

   3. Air pollution can have a small impact

   4. Air pollution has no impact

   5. Don’t Know

Ask Q7 only if they think air quality in their city is good or less in Q2 and 3 or lived somewhere that had air pollution (Q6)

7. What about your life -- would you say air pollution currently has a big impact, a moderate impact, a small impact or no impact on your life and the quality of your life?

   1. Air pollution has a big impact

   2. Air pollution has a moderate impact

   3. Air pollution has a small impact

   4. Air pollution does not affect the quality of my day-to-day life at all

   5. Don’t Know

Ask everyone

8. Do you think people can experience symptoms or other health problems due to air pollution? The health problems could be short term or long term. Remember we are talking about air pollution, not pollen.

   1. Yes

   2. No Don’t Know

9. Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you to reduce your outdoor activity level when the air quality is bad?

   1. Yes

   2. No[skip to Q13]

   3. Don’t know

Ask Q10-12 only if think air pollution can impact health

10. Have you ever experienced any symptoms or developed any health problems that you think were related to air pollution? Please think about all the places you have lived when you answer this question.

    1. Yes

    2. No [skip to Q12]

    3. Don’t know

11. Some people are more likely to experience health problems related to air pollution than others. Do you consider yourself to be more likely than the average person your age to experience health problems related to air pollution?

    1. Yes

    2. No

    3. Don’t know

12. Thinking about the other people in your household, is there anyone in your household who is more likely than the average person their age to experience health problems related to air pollution?

    1. Yes

    2. No

    3. Don’t know

Ask Q13 to 16 only if they think air quality in their city is good or less in Q2 and 3 or lived somewhere that had air pollution (Q6) and think air pollution has some impact on day to day life (Q7)

13. Sometimes people make big changes in their life because of air pollution. Has air pollution ever been an important factor in your decision about what city to live in?

    1. Yes

    2. No

    3. I don’t know

14. Has air pollution ever been an important factor in your decision about which neighborhood within the city to live in?

    1. Yes

    2. No

    3. I don’t know

15. Has air pollution ever been an important factor in your decision about what job to take?

    1. Yes

    2. No

    3. I don’t know

16. Has air pollution ever been an important factor in your decisions about your daily schedule or things you do during the day? Examples might be the time of day you exercise, how long you exercise, how you commute, when you commute, or what activities to participate in.

    1. Yes

    2. No

    3. I don’t know

Ask everyone

17. Do you think there are actions that people can take to protect themselves from exposure to air pollution?

    1. Yes

    2. No [skip to Q19]

    3. Don’t know

18. What actions can people take to avoid being exposed to air pollution or to reduce the effects of being exposed? Please list up to 3 actions.

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

19. Here is a list of strategies that have been suggested if people want to avoid being exposed to air pollution. In your opinion, how effective would the strategy be in reducing someone’s exposure to air pollution or reducing the impact air pollution had on the individual?

	Very Effective	Somewhat Effective	Not at all effective	No opinion
Spend less time outdoors
Use the air conditioner
Close the windows
Engage in less strenuous activities outdoors
Take medication
Wear a face mask

20. Now we would like you to think about the things a person can do to reduce air pollution. Do you think there are actions that people can take to reduce their contribution to air pollution?

    1. Yes

    2. No [skip to Q22]

    3. Don’t know

21. What actions can people take to reduce air pollution? Please list up to 3 actions.

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

22. Here is a list of strategies that have been suggested if people want to reduce the amount of pollution in their city. In your opinion, how effective would the strategy be in reducing the amount of air pollution?

	Very Effective	Somewhat Effective	Not at all effective	No opinion
Drive less, carpool or postpone errands
Use public transportation
Don’t burn wood in the fireplace or wood stove
Don’t burn trash or brush
Drive a hybrid car or a car that gets good gas mileage
Postpone refueling their cars until after sundown
Postpone using gas-powered machines or tools until after sundown
Reduce electricity use
Get you car’s emissions tested regularly

Ask Q23 and 24 only if they think air quality in their city is good or less in Q2 and 3 or lived somewhere that had air pollution (Q6)

Now let’s go back to actions people can take to avoid exposing themselves to air pollution and talk about things that you, personally, might have done. We recognize that people have very demanding schedules and lifestyles. Making changes to avoid air pollution can be difficult or impossible. For these next few questions, please give us your honest opinions.

23. On days when you think air pollution is high, do you [only include somewhat or very effective actions from Q19]

	Always	Sometimes	Rarely	Never
Spend less time outdoors
Use the air conditioner
Close the windows
Engage in less strenuous activities outdoors
Take medication
Wear a face mask

1. [if never] There are lots of reasons why people do or do not do things. What would say is the main reason that you don’t [name of activity]?

   1. People don’t do things like that where I live.

   2. Air pollution is not a big enough problem here

   3. I can’t [insert activity].

   4. I don’t take any medication

   5. It costs too much

   6. I never thought about doing this

   7. I don’t know

Now let’s go back actions people can take to reduce air pollution, and talk about things that you, personally, have done. Again, we realize that some of these actions may be difficult to take. Please give us your honest opinions.

24. On days when you think air pollution is high, do you [only include somewhat or very effective actions from Q22]

	Always	Sometimes	Rarely	Never
Drive less, carpool or postpone errands
Use public transportation
Don’t burn wood in the fireplace or wood stove
Don’t burn trash or brush
Drive a hybrid car or a car that gets good gas mileage
Postpone refueling their cars until after sundown
Postpone using gas-powered machines or tools until after sundown
Reduce electricity use
Get you car’s emissions tested regularly

1. [if no] Again, there are lots of reasons why people do or do not do things. What would say is the main reason that you don’t [name of activity]?

   1. I am worried about air pollution, but I don’t think this will help reduce air pollution levels.

   2. Air pollution is not a big enough problem here

   3. People don’t do things like that where I live

   4. I can’t [insert activity].

   5. I don’t drive

   6. I don’t have any gas powered machines or tools

   7. The reduction in air pollution would be so small it wouldn’t matter

   8. It costs too much.

   9. I never thought about doing this.

   10. I don’t know

Ask everyone

25. During the past year, have you heard, read or seen any news stories, articles or public service announcements about air pollution in your city? We are interested in what you have heard about your city, not national or international air pollution.

    1. Yes

    2. No [skip to Q27]

    3. Don’t know [skip to Q27]

26. Where have you heard about or seen information about daily air pollution or air pollution warnings

    1. on TV

    2. on the radio

    3. in a newspaper

    4. on the Internet or a website

    5. at your school or office

    6. from a friend, family member, or colleague at work

    7. I receive e-mail notifications when higher levels of air pollution are forecast

    8. Other, where _______________

    9. Don’t know

27. In some cities, the government routinely collects information on air quality that may be distributed by local radio, TV and newspapers to help inform the public about air pollution levels. Have you ever heard or read about air pollution information or warning systems where you live? Please do not include times when you may have heard or read about high pollen counts.

    1. Yes

    2. No [skip to Q29]

    3. Don’t know [skip to Q29]

28. What is the name an air pollution warning system used in your city? ________________________________________ [skip to Q31]

29. These warnings might be called the Air Quality Index, Code Red or Orange Days, Air Pollution Watch, Ozone Action Days, Smog Alert, Spare the Air Day or something similar. Have you ever heard or read about any of these air pollution alerts where you live? Please do not include times when you may have heard or read about high pollen counts.

    1. Yes

    2. No [skip to Q36]

    3. Don’t Know

30. Which of the following do you think is the name of the air pollution warning system in your city?

    1. Air Quality Index

    2. Code Red or Orange Days

    3. Air Quality Action Day

    4. Air Pollution Watch

    5. Ozone Action Days

    6. Smog Alert

    7. Spare the Air Day

    8. Enviroflash

    9. Other, name ________________

    10. Don’t know

31. Using a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is least important to you and 10 is vitally important to you, how important are air quality forecast alerts to you and your family’s daily life?

    1. enter response _______

32. What is the name of the agency or organization that provides air pollution information for your city?

    1. The name is ______________

    2. Don’t know

33. Do you think the information in the air quality forecast is

    1. Very reliable

    2. Somewhat reliable

    3. Not very reliable

    4. Don’t know

34. In general, which of the following best describes how often you get information about air pollution during the summer?

    1. I receive e-mail notifications when bad air quality conditions are forecasted

    2. I look for the air pollution forecast myself every day or almost every day

    3. I look for the air pollution forecast myself some days

    4. I do not check the forecast, if I see or hear that air pollution is forecast to be high, I consider that information when I make plans for the day

    5. I rarely or never pay attention to air pollution or air pollution warnings

    6. Other, ____________________

35. Can you tell me what air quality color code was forecast for today [OR Can you tell me if a smog alert/ozone action day/spare the air day was forecast for today – tailor to city]?

    1. Code Red

    2. Code Orange

    3. Code Yellow

    4. Code Green

    5. Other _________

    6. Don’t know

Ask Q36 and Q37 only if they think there is air pollution in their city or lived somewhere that had air pollution

36. Which of the following pollutants is biggest problem in your city in the summer, if any? (randomize order)

    1. My city does not have an air pollution problem in the summer

    2. Ozone

    3. Particle pollution

    4. Carbon Dioxide

    5. Nitrogen

    6. Sulfur or acid rain

    7. Other, ___________

    8. Don’t know

37. Which of the following pollutants is biggest problem in your city in the winter, if any?

    1. My city does not have an air quality problem in the winter

    2. Ozone

    3. Particle pollution

    4. Carbon Dioxide

    5. Nitrogen

    6. Sulfur or acid rain

    7. Other, ___________

    8. Don’t know

The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response. Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated collection techniques to the Director, Collection Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed survey to this address.