Graduation Date
Fall 2022
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Environmental Systems, option Energy, Technology, and Policy
Committee Chair Name
Peter Alstone
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Deepti Chatti
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Nicholas Lam
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Wildfires, Smoke exposure, Air quality, Poor air quality, Climate, Small community, Concerns, Risks, Mitigation measures, San Diego County, Southern California
Subject Categories
Environmental Systems
Abstract
This study focuses on a community’s interest and knowledge on air quality mitigation measures in regard to smoke exposure from wildfires. A combination of semi-structured in person interviews and online surveys were available for those individuals that lived or worked in Ramona, California. The residents in Ramona had varying knowledge, concern levels and responses when discussing air quality mitigation measures with regards to wildfire smoke effects and impacts. Wildfire smoke itself was not a major concern of most residents within the area and many had described wildfire smoke mitigation measures as being conditional measures not applicable to the entire community but specific towards those individuals sensitive to poor air quality in the community. Many individuals felt underinformed or had misinterpreted messages from state agencies regarding the effects of wildfire smoke exposure on human health. Given the limited familiarity with wildfire smoke exposure effects within the community more promotion of wildfire smoke exposure effects and air quality resources available to the public should occur. The messaging that is promoted by state and federal agencies should also be clarified to not send mixed messaging to community members.
Citation Style
APA
Recommended Citation
Salas, Nicole C., "Exploring the knowledge of wildfire smoke mitigation and tolerance measures within a high-risk community in San Diego County, California" (2022). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 610.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/610