REGIONAL AND LONG TERM VARIATIONS OF AIR POLLUTANTS ON AIR QUALITY OVER THE MISSISSIPPI GULF OF MEXICO REGION, AND RELATED HEALTH IMPACTS

摘要

Industries and transportation are some of the important sources of pollutants to theatmosphere, and the most important are particulate matter (2.5 micron: PM2.5),sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ozone. These emissions can contribute to theenvironmental issues like climate variability due to elevated levels of greenhousegases, or acidic rainfall. Climate change affects living beings – people, plants, andanimals. In human beings, health related diseases like asthma are of muchconcern in addition to climate sensitive diseases such as malaria and smog. It isimportant to investigate and understand the interplay between industrial pollutants,climate change and health. In the present study, we present a detailed study of thelong term variations of PM2.5 for over 10 years (2001 – 2010) in selected regionsof Mississippi – Northern, Central, and Southern. For each of these regions, a fewlocations will be selected to study the seasonal variations of PM2.5 to account forthe observed scenarios or episodes. The three regions are selected because oftheir air quality and associated characteristic weather patterns. The Northernregion of Mississippi exhibits Northerly winds and high pressures systems, whileSouthern region shows Southerly winds with low pressure systems. The PM2.5seasonal variations are expected to manifest the influence of the weather patterns.The observed air pollutant scenarios in Mississippi will be accounted in relation tothe air pollutant sources – Industrial and Transportation, and air dispersion.Physical mechanisms will be drawn to interpret the observed air quality episodes ofPM2.5 in the seasonal trends, and the associated health effects. The results willhelp to understand the role of pollutants on environmental issues and healtheffects.