Environmental racism disproportionately harms marginalized communities through poor pollution, hazardous waste management, and unequal access to clean resources. Driven by racial capitalism, it devalues both people and ecosystems. Black women and femmes (BWF) have long led environmental activism in linking race, place, and the environment to form the foundation of Black Feminist Ecology. This framework takes a holistic, intersectional approach to environmental planning by centering the unique insights and relationships that BWF have with their environments. Challenging traditional models, it promotes inclusive, equitable practices that address the interconnected impacts of racism, sexism, and environmental degradation that BWF have experienced. This project documents Black Feminist Ecologies in North Carolina, examining the way BWF draw on lived experiences to address challenges and lead environmental justice efforts. We explore their local and global impact through a literature review, annotated bibliography, and interview analysis. To enhance the research design and supplement interview data, we used search databases (e.g., Google Scholar, Web of Science, Environmental Complete) to identify relevant and reliable scientific journals, news articles, and podcasts, with tailored search strategies to query specific materials referencing environmental injustice, Black feminist activism, and community resistance in North Carolina. Possible next steps include conducting additional interviews, synthesizing findings through qualitative analysis, and thematic coding. Integrating this framework into environmental planning and policy can advance resistance to environmental injustice and community well-being across North Carolina.
Crocodilians, ancient vertebrates that have endured over 230 million years and five mass extinctions, present a remarkable case of evolutionary robustness. Their persistence is speculated to be at least partially a result of an incredibly resilient immune system. Adaptive immunity in crocodilians is studied herein with close attention to the age-old controversy regarding the existence of lymph nodes—organs pivotal to vertebrate immune memory and response. Genomic data of four species (Crocodylus porosus and Alligator mississippiensis, others) were interrogated using IgDetective, MetaCerebrus, and NCBI tBLASTn to identify principal immune markers. Visualization using heatmaps showed high genomic presence of lymph node-specific molecules, including BAFF, Podoplanin, NTAN1, and MADCAM-1, and structural markers Desmin and Desmoplakin. Moreover, the adaptive immune cell markers—CD4, CD8, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgD, IgE), CD44, and CD56—were all found and highly conserved. These findings suggest that crocodilians may possess either genuine lymph node tissues or an analogous lymphoid structure that would be able to allow adaptive immunity. This challenges long-standing hypotheses of crocodilian immunity primarily being innate and positions these taxa as key models for immune evolution studies. Future research includes tissue sampling, CT imaging for the detection of anatomical lymphoid structures, and crocodile-inspired developing immunotherapies. Through understanding these fossil immune systems, we may uncover evolutionary strategies that will be useful in combating disease and environmental toxins in a fast-evolving world.
Flood vulnerability is shaped by both environmental risk and social inequality, often disproportionately affecting rural and underserved populations. This study uses statistical and geospatial analysis to evaluate the flood exposure risk of North Carolina extraterritorial jurisdiction communities (ETJs) areas that are often underserved by municipal flood management infrastructure. Extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) refers to the authority granted to a municipality to exercise zoning and regulatory power to unincorporated territory beyond its official city limits. While municipalities are permitted to apply regulations for zoning, development agreements, planning and urban development, etc. to ETJ areas, residents are often excluded from decision-making for key infrastructure and flood mitigation planning in their communities. This fragmented governance of ETJ communities can create resilience challenges in the face of devastating climate-driven inland flooding that has become commonplace in North Carolina, like that from Hurricane Helene in 2024. We use regression analysis to evaluate the exposure of ETJ communities in North Carolina to 100-year flood hazards (1% flood zones). By integrating the North Carolina Flood Risk Information System (FRIS) floodplain data with municipal boundary layers, we will assess the distribution of flood risk in ETJ areas often underserved by municipal infrastructure and services. Our analysis will highlight potential disparities in flood vulnerability between incorporated and ETJ areas and identify areas where policy interventions—such as annexation, regional disaster planning coordination, or targeted infrastructure investment—may be most urgently needed. Our results indicate that ETJ communities, particularly those identified as rural, experience elevated flood exposure when compared to incorporated areas. This data highlights potential disparities in flood vulnerability between incorporated and unincorporated communities and identifies specific contexts in which policy interventions—such as annexation, targeted infrastructure investment, and more equitable approaches to urban development—may be most urgently needed.
The Charlotte Metropolitan Region (CMR) is a growing urban center split between three separate National Weather Service (NWS) county warning areas. As a result, no formal severe weather climatology report has ever been completed for CMR. The identification of spatial and temporal trends that are associated with the development of severe weather contributes to a clearer understanding of risks leading to enhanced storm prediction. Utilizing the official National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) storm reports database, tornado, severe hail, and severe wind reports for the CMR region from 1955 through 2024 are analyzed. Temporal trends are graphed by storm report type for hourly, monthly, and yearly distributions. Reported locations for each storm type are plotted over land use and population density maps to examine correlations. Synoptic composite maps for the Eastern Continuous United States (CONUS) from 2013-2024 were visualized using Rapid Refresh (RAP) model analysis data for the pre-convective hour of each severe event. The composite maps showcase variables including geopotential height, relative humidity, helicity, wet-bulb, and convective available potential energy (CAPE) for tornado, hail, and severe wind events. The spatial configuration and temporal distribution of reports are consistent with previous climatologies for the Southeast. The composite maps displayed distinctions between weaker severe events and significant events in low-level helicity values, middle-level relative humidity, and upper-level support for deep vertical motion. Overall, a better understanding of past CMR severe weather events is critical to providing the rapidly growing region with accurate weather forecasts, effective emergency management, and proactive urban planning strategies.
Background: Since the mid-twentieth century, US agriculture has undergone significant growth and transformation, driven by the massive demand for meat production and a transition to large operations for cost savings. Research has shown that CAFOs, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, are associated with local environmental degradation and community health disparities; however, there is a limited understanding of their impact on community development. Objective: The purpose of our study is to investigate how the population within hog CAFO communities evolved with respect to race, class, education, and income as compared to non-hog CAFO communities in North Carolina (NC). Methods: We investigated the changes in demographic, household, and local economic trends associated with varying levels of hog CAFO construction (i.e., area-weighted CAFO count within a 15 km buffer) in counties compared to counties without such facilities during the peak period of hog growth from 1992 to 1995. Results: A higher density of hog CAFOs was constructed in areas with a lower percentage of White and Asian residents and a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic residents in NC. A higher density of CAFOs was built in counties with residents of lower socio-economic status. Continuing, findings suggest CAFOs are associated with the displacement of Black residents, and in turn, hog farming communities are becoming Whiter, even with increased growth rates in the Hispanic population. Hog CAFO construction is associated with lower wage growth and a tempering in the growth of employment opportunities compared to non-hog farming communities. Conclusions: This research aims to provide more insight into the impact of CAFOs on communities, thereby better informing the planning and development of CAFOs, so that rural communities can grow healthily and sustainably. Keywords Hog Farms, Community Development, Race, Local Economics, Trends
Microplastic pollution poses significant environmental and health concerns, yet its prevalence in freshwater lakes like Lake Tahoe remains understudied. Microplastics have been found in tissues, including breast milk, placenta, semen, heart and lungs, and are associated with many diseases, including cardiovascular and respiratory disease. This research investigates the presence, concentration, and morphology of microplastics in the surface waters of Lake Tahoe, renowned for its pristine waters. Two sampling events using a custom-built collection filter captured microplastics over a distance of 4.51 kilometers each. Laboratory analysis revealed concentrations of 0.408 and 0.855 pieces/m³ for samples collected on 11/24/2024 and 12/01/2024, respectively. Characterization of particles included color and morphology. Colors raged from red, green, blue to white, grey and black. Morphology identified two primary forms—fragments and fibers/filaments—categorized by shape and structure. Limitations, such as the exclusion of particles smaller than 350 microns, and challenges in maintaining consistent sampling depth, likely resulted in an underestimation of microplastic abundance. Variations in concentrations may also be influenced by weather conditions, seasonality, and sampling locations. Despite its relatively low concentrations compared to other studies, this research confirms the presence of microplastics in Lake Tahoe, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring and methodological refinement. Future research should focus on finer particle detection, seasonal variation, and broader spatial coverage to better understand the distribution and potential ecological impact of microplastics in Lake Tahoe. Addressing microplastic pollution is essential to preserving this iconic freshwater ecosystem and mitigating risks to both wildlife and human health.
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Keywords: Cancer mortality, rurality, rural-urban counties, healthcare disparities, socioeconomic factors, North Carolina, rural-urban differences. Introduction Cancer, a leading cause of death in the United States (US), is projected to claim 22,000 lives and affect 70,000 individuals in North Carolina alone in 2024. While the overall cancer mortality rates in the US have seen a decline, rural areas have not experienced a similar trend. Despite existing state-level research, there is a crucial gap in understanding county-level variations in cancer mortality across North Carolina, particularly in relation to rurality. Therefore, this study analyzed the relationship between rurality and cancer mortality among North Carolina counties. Methodology This ecological study examined cancer mortality rates from 2018 to 2022 across North Carolina’s 100 counties. Data on cancer mortality were obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s publicly available datasets; Rurality was obtained from the 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) designated by the Economic Research Service division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and dichotomized as rural vs. urban, and county-level characteristics such as healthcare access, preventable hospitalization rates, and median household income were sourced from County Health Rankings and the Area Health Resources Files. Simple and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between rurality and cancer mortality to estimate beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals while adjusting for confounders. Results Initial analysis revealed a significantly higher age-adjusted cancer mortality rate in rural counties (167.6 per 100,000) compared to urban counties (158.1 per 100,000; p = 0.0088). Simple linear regression indicated that urban counties have a cancer mortality rate of 9.5 per 100,000, lower than rural counties, with a statistically significant difference. However, in the multivariable regression, the rural-urban difference was no longer statistically significant (p = 0.428). Factors such as lower median household income, higher preventable hospitalization rates, and limited healthcare facilities, rather than rurality itself, explained the disparities in cancer mortality. Conclusion While rural counties initially showed higher cancer mortality rates, these differences were found to be related to socioeconomic and healthcare disparities rather than rurality itself. These findings underscore the potential impact of targeted interventions in rural communities to address structural barriers to healthcare access and socioeconomic conditions. By prioritizing funding for programs that improve healthcare infrastructure and preventive care in rural areas, policymakers can significantly reduce cancer disparities.
The US maternal health disparities are not evenly distributed, with differences across geography, race, and socioeconomic factors. One key factor potentially driving maternal health disparities is maternal health care access, as research has shown access to providers such as obstetricians reduce adverse birth and maternal outcomes like preterm birth and pre-eclampsia. In this study, we examined the accessibility of maternal health care by providing the first fine-scale geospatial analysis of maternal health care access at the census block group and individual level in North Carolina for 2016-2019. We used the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) dissemination database to geocode coordinates of maternal health care providers. Maternal health and birth individual-level data and the Area Deprivation Index community-level covariates were extracted to identify disparities in access. Accessibility was measured using the generalized enhanced two-step floating catchment area technique to compute spatial accessibility scores for healthcare providers. Accessibility measures were analyzed using multivariate multilevel analysis that accounts for individual—and community-level drivers and their association with maternal health and infant outcomes. Results show the majority of NH White (88565, 36.4%) and NH Other (8648, 40.3%) mothers live in low-access areas. Low-access areas also have higher percentages of severe maternal health and birth outcomes compared to middle and high-access areas. This parallels low access regions adjusted for key individual and community level covariates who had increased odds of PIH (1.09) and GDB (1.11). Mothers also had increased odds of PIH (1.17; 1.05) and GDB (1.21; 1.09) for low-access regions adjusted for middle and most disadvantaged ADI areas. Our work is transformative as it provides direct implications for public health policy and future research examining how access to maternal health care impacts maternal and fetal health.
Anesthetic gases are not metabolized by patients and are released directly from hospitals into the environment where they exhibit potent greenhouse gas effects. Compressed gases, like nitrous oxide (N2O), are commonly stored in a central tank and delivered through pipes in facility walls to the anesthetic ventilators. Several reports have shown that these pipelines leak 70-90% of the N2O before usage. This project sought to determine the leak rate of nitrous oxide at Carolinas Medical Center, Main Campus in North Carolina for 2023 by analyzing purchase and utilization data to determine the discrepancy. 719,264 liters of nitrous oxide was purchased for 2023. Clinical usage data for the year was calculated based on a 6-month data model of anesthesia records of the main operating rooms and estimations of clinical usage for areas of the hospital using paper records. Only 100,000 liters of N2O was clinically accounted for compared to the 719,264 purchased, showing a clinical usage rate of only 14%, and a leak rate of 84%. Carolinas Medical Center’s N2O leak rate is comparable to other reported facilities. Decommissioning existing central pipelines and transition towards cylinders attached to each anesthesia machine could reduce anesthetic gas wastage and reduce associated environmental impacts.
Background: Exposure to microplastics (MPs) is frequent, if not daily, through ingestion, inhalation, or adsorption. The concentration of microplastics in human blood can vary, but prior research has indicated a range of 1 to 5 µg/mL. Due to the proposed toxic nature of plastic particles, coupled with plastic use in medicine, food packaging, and other industries, it is important to investigate the effects of MPs on the uterine environment. We aim to determine how varying concentrations and sizes of MPs influence the behavior of human endometrial stromal cells (eSCs), a critical cell type for reproductive health. Methods: Endometrial stromal cells from healthy controls in the Research OutSmarts Endometriosis (ROSE) Study were expanded in culture and exposed to a range of doses of 20 nm and 100 nm polystyrene (PS) particles. Cell proliferation and decidualization, a process of cell differentiation required for embryo implantation and pregnancy, were analyzed to understand significant changes. Both short-term and long-term cultures were evaluated. Results: At PS concentrations 1-5 µg/mL, increased proliferative trends were observed compared to vehicle-treated cells in both short-term and long-term PS 20 nm treatment groups. Conversely, proliferation decreased significantly following 50-200 µg/mL exposure to 20 nm PS short-term. There was also an increase in proliferation between vehicle-treated and 5 µg/ mL long-term PS exposure for 100 nm PS particles. Short-term exposure to PS 20 nm particles led to a significant decrease in decidualization of eSCs from vehicle-treated to 50 µg/mL-200 µg/mL. Although not significant yet, long-term exposure to both PS 20 and 100 nm show downward trends in cell decidualization. Conclusion: Exposure to MPs leads to changes in the proliferation and decidualization of eSCs in vitro. Future studies should investigate mechanistic pathways by which this outcome is achieved and chronic exposure should be explored further.
Environmental justice (EJ) discourse has often overlooked the intersectional experiences and leadership of Black women and femmes (BWF). Recent research in Black feminist thought, ecofeminism, and ecowomanism addresses this gap by centering BWF voices in the fight against environmental injustice. This project contributes to that discourse by examining how BWF activists use storytelling, spirituality, and grassroots organizing to resist environmental harm and reimagine justice. The central research question is: How do BWF activists use narrative strategies—such as storytelling—alongside spirituality and grassroots organizing to resist environmental racism and reimagine environmental justice through Black feminist and ecofeminist frameworks? Using feminist qualitative analysis of interdisciplinary literature, including research articles, interviews, focus groups, popular media, and case studies, this project traces how BWF environmental justice work expresses resistance to environmental and patriarchal harms. Preliminary findings suggest that their activism is grounded in ancestral knowledge, spiritual traditions, and community-based resistance. Storytelling emerges as a powerful tool of resistance, where language is used not only to share experiences but to challenge dominant narratives, reclaim power, and affirm long-standing relationships with the environment as strategies of survival. Their activism also involves emotional and spiritual labor, often undervalued but essential to healing and sustaining communities. These practices redefine justice in ways that expand traditional EJ frameworks by foregrounding cultural, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of resistance. By centering BWF leadership, this study offers a more holistic, liberatory vision of justice rooted in lived experiences, identity, and care. These insights have implications for scholars, policymakers, and activists seeking more inclusive and transformative approaches to environmental justice.
