Assessing air quality and composition of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in Jackson, MS

There are limited studies on air quality in the Southern United States, with even fewer assessing the health impacts of poor air quality on underserved communities. Jackson, the Mississippi state capital, has documented environmental injustices linked to drinking water quality and access to healthcare, but the impact of air pollution is underexplored. Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), a complex mixture of air pollution, has associations with systemic health effects and the ability to induce oxidative stress. While federal regulations require monitoring PM_2.5 throughout the United States, there is limited characterization of health relevant components, including black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This project utilizes PM_2.5 filters to investigate the chemical and toxicological profile of PM_2.5 at two intraurban sites using the dithiothreitol assay to measure oxidative potential and Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry to quantify PAHs. Significant differences between sites in PM_2.5 concentration, oxidative potential, and PAH concentrations was observed. Additional research is needed to determine the potential human health risks that PM_2.5 poses to residents in Jackson, MS, but this work highlights pollutants of interest at levels that exceed similar studies for urban regions, encouraging more attention and action to protect the air of vulnerable populations.