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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health

Regional PM2.5 and Asthma Morbidity in an Agricultural Community: A Panel Study
Examines the relationship between the extent of pediatric asthma in patients and the concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in an agricultural community within the Yakima Valley in Washington.
Author(s): Christine Loftus, Michael Yost, Paul Sampson, et al.
Citation: Environmental Research, 136, 505-512
Date: 01/2015
Type: Document
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United States-México Environmental Program Highlights Report: Winter 2014-2015
Highlights the U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program Border 2020's accomplishments as of 2014. Discusses various initiatives addressing water quality, hazardous waste clean up, and waste water conservation, among other issues.
Additional links: En Español
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Evaluation of a Pilot Healthy Eating Intervention in Restaurants and Food Stores of a Rural Community: A Randomized Community Trial
Examines 2 rural Midwest U.S. communities, one community serving as the control and the other receiving the Waupaca Eating Smart (WES) intervention designed to improve the food environment and promote healthy eating in restaurants and supermarkets. Includes statistics on nutrition environment scores, customer satisfaction with food choice availability, and food purchase history for both before and after the intervention.
Author(s): Ana P. Martínez-Donate, Ann Josie Riggall, Amy M. Meinen, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 15, 136
Date: 2015
Type: Document
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The Associations Between Environmental Quality and Preterm Birth in the United States, 2000–2005: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Study utilizing the environmental quality index (EQI), a measure of cumulative environmental exposure across all U.S. counties from 2000-2005, to investigate the relationship between the ambient environment and preterm birth. Includes a rural versus urban comparison and factors related to air, water, land, sociodemographics, and the built environment.
Author(s): Kristen M. Rappazzo, Lynne C. Messer, Jyotsna S. Jagai, et al.
Citation: Environmental Health, 14, 50
Date: 2015
Type: Document
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Radon Testing: Community Engagement By a Rural Family Medicine Office
Results of a study conducted in rural Akron, Iowa, to promote use of radon testing kits and to educate the population about the dangers of radon. Includes demographics and statistics related to home characteristics of subjects with valid radon results.
Author(s): Barcey T. Levy, Cynthia K. Wolff, Paul Niles, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 28(5), 617-623
Date: 2015
Type: Document
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Ground Water Contamination - Getting Up to Speed
An overview of natural and man-made sources of ground water contamination. Discusses the health effects of contamination, as well as federal regulations related to water quality.
Date: 2015
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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The Built Environment and Utilitarian Walking in Small U.S. Towns
Examines associations in self-reported and objective built environment walking measures among rural adults. Includes walking data by demographics, lifestyle characteristics, and environmental measures.
Author(s): Mark P. Doescher, Chanam Lee, Ethan M. Berke, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 69, 80-86
Date: 12/2014
Type: Document
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Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2000-2009: Profiles of Youth, Parents, and Children of Farm Workers in the United States
Examines the demographic and employment characteristics of youth crop workers, dependent children of crop workers, and farmworker parents. Focuses on the potential for pesticide exposure. Based on data collected between October 1, 1999 and September 20, 2009 through face-to-face interviews with 26,347 crop workers.
Author(s): Susan Gabbard, Annie Georges, Trish Hernandez, Carmen Sum, Daniel Carroll
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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Cultivating a Competitive Advantage: How Rural Counties Are Growing Economies with Local Assets and Regional Partners
Case studies of rural counties using creative methods to improve their economies. Includes examples that involve the healthcare sector and address issues that impact health.
Date: 11/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Counties
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Rural Border Health Chartbook II
Presents an analysis of border counties, both urban and rural, by comparing these counties to other counties within the four border states, and to rural and urban counties in the rest of the U.S. Provides county-level rates and statistics for sociodemographic factors, the physical environment, access to care, and health outcomes.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Grishma P. Bhavsar, Amy Brock Martin, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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