Wood pellet plant pollution and children's health in Mississippi
Wood Pellet Emissions and Children's Environmental Health in Mississippi
This project measures pollution from wood pellet plants and whether nearby Mississippi children have more breathing problems and stress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162419 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my family takes part, researchers will measure air pollution around wood pellet plants and in our neighborhoods. They will collect samples of tiny particles and chemicals, including specific compounds linked to combustion, using air samplers and other monitoring tools. The team will also track children's asthma symptoms, breathing health, and stress through surveys, health checks, and app-based reporting. Researchers will compare children living near operating plants, soon-to-open plants, and areas farther away to understand differences in exposure and health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents who live near wood pellet manufacturing plants in Mississippi, especially those with asthma or other breathing problems, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who live far from wood pellet facilities or whose health issues are unrelated to air pollution are unlikely to get direct benefits from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help reduce children's exposure to harmful pollution and guide policies or protections to improve asthma and respiratory health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links living near industrial and wood-related manufacturing to worse childhood respiratory and psychological outcomes, but few studies have measured the full mix of pollutants from wood pellet plants, making this work partly novel.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walker, Erica — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Walker, Erica
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.