Year of Award

2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Name

Chemistry

Department or School/College

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Chair

Christopher Palmer

Commitee Members

Lu Hu, Robert Yokelson, Michael DeGrandpre, Tony Ward

Abstract

Residential wood combustion (RWC) is a major wintertime source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and a potentially important source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Yet, uncertainties remain regarding its contribution to ambient air pollution, its representation in anthropogenic emissions inventories, and its direct impacts on indoor air quality via fugitive emissions. This dissertation investigates VOC and PM2.5 emissions from RWC activities, using in situ measurements of gas- and particle-phase pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments.

Chapter 2 presents ambient field observations of 24 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the intermountain valley of Missoula, MT, USA for two winters in 2019 and 2020. Traffic was found to be the dominant source of VOCs in Missoula (~48% of tVOC). While RWC was confirmed to have a low (~5-10%) contribution to the VOC burden, it is responsible for ~50% of ambient PM2.5. Chapter 3 focuses on indoor and outdoor measurements of trace gases and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected during the Alaska Layered Pollution and Chemical Analysis (ALPACA) study in January and February 2022. Emission factors (EFs) for 123 gas- and particle-phase species are reported, the most comprehensive investigation into fugitive RWC emissions thus far. Finally, Chapter 4 presents an inhalation exposure risk assessment using measurements of fugitive emissions of VOCs and PM2.5 the experiments presented in Chapter 3. The chronic noncancer risk for residents exposed to HAPs associated with fugitive pellet stove insert emissions while living in the ALPACA house is high (HI = 16.89); corresponding to an excess of 458 excess cancer cases per 106 people exposed.

Collectively, this dissertation improves understanding of wintertime VOC sources in intermountain valleys, provides a detailed characterization of fugitive emissions from a pellet stove insert, and quantifies inhalation risk associated with exposure to these emissions. The results highlight RWC as an important source of both outdoor and indoor air pollutants, identify potential limitations in existing emissions inventories, and demonstrate the need to consider fugitive emissions when evaluating residential combustion impacts on exposure, health risk, and air-quality management.

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© Copyright 2026 Damien Tyler Ketcherside