Indoor Air Pollution and Worker Productivity

Last registered on March 13, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Indoor Air Pollution and Worker Productivity
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0011061
Initial registration date
March 07, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
March 13, 2023, 3:03 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Primary Investigator

Name
Allen Blackman
Affiliation
Inter-American Development Bank
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Bridget Hoffmann
PI Affiliation
Inter-American Development Bank
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-05-01
End date
2024-12-31
Keywords
Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
air pollution, productivity
JEL code(s)
Q52 Q53 J24 C93
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Observational studies have documented a negative effect of air pollution on the productivity of workers engaged in both cognitive and physical tasks in both outdoor and indoor settings. These studies typically rely on air pollution data from outdoor municipal monitoring stations along with fixed effects and/or instrumental variable econometric models. We will use a randomized controlled trial to identify the effect of air pollution on both labor productivity and absences in an indoor setting. We will use air quality monitors installed in the workplace to measure indoor air pollution and air purifiers to improve air quality in randomly selected workplace locations such as buildings, floors of buildings, or rooms within buildings.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Blackman, Allen and Bridget Hoffmann. 2023. "Indoor Air Pollution and Worker Productivity." AEA RCT Registry. March 13. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.11061-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
In each work location in our study sample, we will install air quality monitors that measure levels of common air pollutants, particularly fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). In work locations assigned to the treatment, we will use air purifiers to reduce the level of air pollutants, particularly PM 2.5.
Intervention Start Date
2023-05-01
Intervention End Date
2024-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) levels in workplace locations, worker productivity, worker absences
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Data on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) will be collected by air quality monitors installed in workplace locations. Data on worker productivity and absences will be taken from firm-established administrative sources.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
In a geographical setting with high levels of ambient air pollution, we will use a randomized controlled trial to test whether air purifiers improve indoor air quality in workplaces, and whether those improvements in turn, affect worker productivity and absences. We will use data from a survey of workers to, among other things, assess treatment effect heterogeneity.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by computer.
Randomization Unit
Workplace locations such as buildings, floors of buildings, or rooms within buildings.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
The number of clusters (work locations such as buildings, floors of buildings, or rooms within buildings) will be determined based on partner firm characteristics.
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approximately1,000 individuals (depending on partner firm characteristics)
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approximately one-half of the participants will be assigned to the control group (~500) and approximately one-half will be assigned to treatment group (~500).
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan