Date of Award
5-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Pharmaceutical Science
First Advisor
Courtney L. Roper
Second Advisor
James A. Stewart
Third Advisor
Kristine L. Willett
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
Air pollution is a leading global health threat, with nearly 100% of the world’s population exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a common air pollutant, has been associated with over four million deaths annually. One of the contributors to PM2.5 is smoke from prescribed burns. Prescribed burns manage wildfires, maintain ecosystems, and promote habitat restoration by weakening fuel loads which lowers intensity and fire duration during wildfires. They also help reduce invasive species, supporting healthier ecosystems. The burning of plant matter is a significant contributor to air pollution, releasing PM2.5, which is a mixture of airborne particles composed of harmful chemicals including black carbon and other hazardous air pollutants. Prescribed burns are common in the southeastern United States mainly for wildfire prevention and ecosystem management. Georgia burns 1.4 million acres annually, accounting for nearly 15% of the prescribed burns by the United States each year. This study aims to investigate PM2.5 and black carbon concentrations in Georgia during 2015, specifically comparing concentrations during prescribed burn season (October 1- April 30) and burn ban season (May 1-September 30). PM2.5 was collected on Teflon filters by the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) throughout 2015 at 21 locations in Georgia. Collected filters were analyzed for PM2.5 using gravimetric analysis and for black carbon using a Magee SootScan transmissometer (880 nm). Pollutant concentrations were compared across site locations, population densities, and seasons. There were significant differences in annual PM2.5 and black carbon concentrations across locations and population densities. Seasonal differences in PM2.5 were observed across all population densities, while seasonal differences in black carbon were observed only at urban sites. Further analysis incorporated records of prescribed burn activity, number of burn permits and number of acres burned, to determine whether this activity influenced pollutant concentrations. Findings showed that both the number of permits and acres burned influenced pollutant concentrations, however the number of acres burned had a more significant impact on pollutant concentrations. Prescribed burns contribute to air pollution and require additional research to identify and mitigate impacts on humans and ecosystems.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Brooklyn, "Impacts of Prescribed Burning: an Air Quality Assessment in Georgia" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8837.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/8837