Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences
First Advisor
Courtney L. Roper
Second Advisor
Kristie Willett
Third Advisor
John Rimoldi
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Across the globe, 4.2 million premature deaths were attributed to poor air quality. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a complex mixture of solid and liquid pollutants measuring 2.5 microns or smaller in aerodynamic diameter that includes harmful constituents like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), black carbon, and various elements, is one portion of air pollution. Due to its small size and large surface area, PM2.5 is a health concern as it can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, with the ultrafine (0.1 ≥) fraction able to enter the bloodstream and cause systemic health impacts. Urban areas are prime targets for PM2.5 chemical characterization and toxicological assessment, but regions such as the Southeastern United States (U.S.) are often overlooked, although the area includes risk factors that exacerbate the effects of PM2.5 exposure. In the U.S., state agencies monitor PM2.5 concentrations through samplers that collect particles onto filters, yet do not explore the components of concern to human health. Furthermore, the lack of standardized filter extraction methods for PM2.5 can introduce bias in chemical and toxicological analysis results. The overall goal of this dissertation was to characterize components of concern from PM2.5 collected by state agencies in the Southeastern U.S., as well as assess air quality in regions without present sampling. Our first study investigated how different solvents impact PM2.5 extraction from filter quadrants taken from rural and urban locations in Arkansas. Significant variation in oxidative potential and associations between elements were observed based on extraction solvent. For chapter II, continuing with PM2.5 characterization in Jackson, Mississippi, comparisons were made between black carbon, parent PAHs, and oxidative potential between two sampling locations. Finding significant differences between the two sites underscores the importance of understanding local chemical stressors and the potential health impacts on communities. The third chapter provides novel data regarding environmental health literacy and concerns regarding pollution in the Mississippi Delta, and the final chapter outlines plans and preliminary findings for an air sampling campaign in the understudied Delta region. These efforts will eventually be used to formulate community-based research questions and support advocacy for residents regarding air quality in the Southeastern U.S..
Recommended Citation
Smith, Amelia Craze, "Assessing Fine Particulate Matter in the Southern United States: From Analytical Approaches to Environmental Health Literacy" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3029.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3029
