Climate Change and New Challenges for Rural Communities: Particulate Matter Matters

Isabelle Racine Miousse, Rachel B. Hale, Scott Alsbrook, Gunnar Boysen, Tanya Broadnax, Carleisha Murry, Candace Williams, Chul Hyun Park, Robert Richards, Justin Reedy, Marie-Cécile Chalbot, Ilias G. Kavouras and Igor Koturbash ()
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Isabelle Racine Miousse: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Rachel B. Hale: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Scott Alsbrook: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Gunnar Boysen: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Tanya Broadnax: Rural Community Alliance, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Carleisha Murry: Rural Community Alliance, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Candace Williams: Rural Community Alliance, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Chul Hyun Park: Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Robert Richards: Clinton School of Public Service, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Justin Reedy: Department of Communication, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Marie-Cécile Chalbot: Department of Biological Sciences, New York City College of Technology, City University of New York, New York, NY 10018, USA
Ilias G. Kavouras: Department of Environmental, Occupational and Geospatial Health Sciences, City University of New York, New York, NY 10018, USA
Igor Koturbash: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Climate change presents multiple challenges to rural communities. Here, we investigated the toxicological potential of the six types of particulate matter most common to rural Arkansas: soil, road, and agricultural dusts, pollen, traffic exhaust, and particles from biomass burning in human small airway epithelial cells (SAECs). Biomass burning and agricultural dust demonstrated the most potent toxicological responses, exhibited as significant ( p < 0.05) up-regulation of HMOX1 (oxidative stress) and TNFα (inflammatory response) genes as well as epigenetic alterations (altered expression of DNA methyltransferases DNMT1 , DNMT3A , and DNMT3B , enzymatic activity, and DNA methylation of alpha satellite elements) that were evident at both 24 h and 72 h of exposure. We further demonstrate evidence of aridification in the state of Arkansas and the presence of winds capable of transporting agricultural dust- and biomass burning-associated particles far beyond their origination. Partnerships in the form of citizen science projects may provide important solutions to prevent and mitigate the negative effects of the rapidly evolving climate and improve the well-being of rural communities. Furthermore, the identification of the most toxic types of particulate matter could inform local policies related to agriculture, biomass burning, and dust control.

Keywords: agriculture; citizen science; climate change; geographic information systems; inhalational toxicology; DNA methylation; particulate matter; rural communities; wildfires (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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