Date of Award
January 2025
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Department
School of Public Health
First Advisor
Krystal Pollitt
Abstract
Background: Wildfire smoke is an increasingly important public health concern. While regulatory monitoring emphasizes fine particulate matter (PM2.5), wildfire smoke is composed of complex mixtures of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs), many of which are harmful to human health but are understudied.
Methods: Fresh Air Clips, passive chemical samplers, were deployed in Kamloops and Kelowna from March to September 2024 to measure VOC and SVOC concentrations before, during, and after the wildfire season. Chemical samples were analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry. PM2.5 concentrations, wildfire perimeters, wind direction and speed data, and HYSPLIT back-trajectories were integrated to classify wildfire smoke days and infer pollutant transport pathways and sources. Bayesian Profile Regression was applied to identify and characterize multi-pollutant exposure clusters.Results: PM2.5 and chemical concentrations peaked between mid-July and August, with Kamloops consistently recording higher levels than Kelowna. Bayesian clustering revealed four chemical profiles. Clusters 1 and 3 reflected background conditions in Kelowna and Kamloops, respectively. Cluster 2 captured wildfire smoke signatures rich in PAHs and phthalates, and Cluster 4 indicated a mixed source of wildfire and industrial pollutants, including di-n-butyl phthalate. Wind and trajectory analyses highlighted Canada-US cross-border transport.
Conclusion: Wildfire smoke contains a diverse mix of health-relevant pollutants, including plasticizers and PAHs, whose composition reflects both fuel type and transport dynamics. This study underscores the need for chemical-specific monitoring, transboundary air quality coordination, and targeted source attribution to inform public health responses during wildfire events.
Recommended Citation
Maybank, Aline Grace Friesen, "Exploring The Chemistry Of Wildfire Smoke: Leveraging High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Approaches To Detect Chemical Signatures" (2025). Public Health Theses. 2520.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysphtdl/2520
This Article is Open Access
Comments
This is an Open Access Thesis.