Wood Pellet Emissions and Children's Environmental Health in Mississippi

Abstract Children living near industrial activities are at a heightened risk of poorer health, including stress, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. An increased understanding of climate change along with the results of prior studies linking adverse health effects to fossil fuel activities have precipitated a shift towards alternative energy

sources such as wood biomass. As a result, the market for wood pellets is booming, and plants are springing up across the US, especially in the deep south. Wood pellet plants are twice as likely to be in predominantly Black communities that are additionally burdened with many health, social, economic, and infrastructural

disparities. Despite growing community concerns about environmental health impacts on communities surrounding wood pellet plants, few studies have been conducted. Epidemiologic studies suggest that living nearby industrial manufacturing, generally, and wood-related manufacturing, specifically, is associated with

negative respiratory health and psychological distress in children. However, these studies are limited due to their inability to holistically characterize the pollutants emitted from wood pellet production when assessing pediatric health impacts. We are proposing a place-based study in Mississippi–the least healthy state

regarding childhood respiratory diseases as 1 in every 10 children under the age of 18 has asthma, and 3.3% more Black children than White children have asthma. Mississippi also has 7 wood pellet plants-4 fully operational and 3 soon to be open (or in early development) that are anticipated to be the largest plants in the

world. Preliminary exposure data suggests that communities with active wood pellet plants have higher air and sound levels than communities without active plants. Our research goals are to build on this preliminary data and carry out an extensive air and noise pollution exposure assessment in three types of communities: t those

with an operational wood pellet plant, those with a proposed wood pellet plant, and those with no wood pellet plants and no (or limited) other industrial manufacturing. We propose to conduct a combined ambient and indoor sound and air pollution assessment (Aim 1 and Exploratory Aim) and will use these measurements to

assess their impact on children’s respiratory health and stress, also examining the extent to which neighborhood resources, community stressors, and structural factors may modify these associations (Aim 2). We will also invest in local human capital and engage the community by providing research training for

Mississippi-based high school students, community college students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and older adults; community engagement activities using our app, NoiseScore; and environmental- literacy tools using our activity book series. We will create a cohort of local researchers and concerned

residents who will become first-authors in their future stories. Together, we can develop strategies, policies, and interventions to improve community health and well-being.