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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health

Water and Wastewater in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region: Twentieth Report of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board to the President and Congress of the United States
Report discussing drinking water and wastewater needs along the U.S.-Mexico border. Offers recommendations regarding coordination of services for underserved and tribal communities, infrastructure funding, and long-term planning. Discusses issues specific to rural areas, colonias, and tribal communities such as climates risks, health disparities, and more. Lists federal funding sources.
Author(s): P. Ganster, I. Coronado, J. McNeece, et al.
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Good Neighbor Environmental Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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South Carolina State Health Assessment, 2023
Reports on the health status of South Carolina residents and identifies trends and priorities. Covers topics associated with each stage of life, including maternal and infant health, childhood and adolescence, adulthood, and healthy aging. Additional highlighted areas include population characteristics, health equity, health conditions, access, workforce, public health capacity, community and environmental influences on health, and more. Discusses rural issues throughout, and provides maps showing county-level data for selected topics. Includes a condensed State Health Assessment Companion Report.
Additional links: Companion Report
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Alliance for a Healthy South Carolina (AHSC), Live Healthy South Carolina (LHSC), South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
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The Effect of Pesticide Spray Season and Residential Proximity to Agriculture on Glyphosate Exposure among Pregnant People in Southern Idaho, 2021
Evaluated regular urine samples of 40 pregnant women in Idaho to determine the impact of pesticide exposure on pregnant people both near and far from agricultural fields. Analysis included before, during, and after "spray season" or the time of the year when pesticide is most likely to be applied.
Author(s): Cynthia L. Curl, Carly Hyland, Meredith Spivak, et al.
Citation: Environmental Health Perspectives, 131(12)
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
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America's Health Rankings Annual Report 2023
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 49 measures to describe and rank health outcomes in the U.S. and 38 additional measures used to track current and emerging health issues at state and national levels. Analyzes and presents data on disparities by geography and demographic characteristics throughout, including data on American Indian/Alaska Native populations and metropolitan status.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 12/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Building Resilience through Disaster Relief and Recovery
Describes the impact of climate events on rural populations and community infrastructure. Provides strategies for localized disaster response and recovery solutions by utilizing partnerships, building resilience, and improving food access. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Slide Deck
Author(s): Jonathan Sury, Nick Wiersma, Pam Chatman
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: No Kid Hungry
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Cumulative Environmental Quality Is Associated with Breast Cancer Incidence Differentially by Summary Stage and Urbanicity
Identifies associations between environmental factors and breast cancer stages in North Carolina using the Environmental Quality Index (EQI). EQI factors include air, water, land, sociodemographic, and built environments. Includes analysis of urbanicity, race, screenings, and tobacco use.
Author(s): Larisa M. Gearhart-Serna, Brittany A. Mills, Hillary Hsu, et al.
Citation: Scientific Reports, 13, 20301
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
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Accessing Clean Water Infrastructure Assistance: Small, Rural, Disadvantaged, and Underserved Communities
Recording of a November 8, 2023, hearing exploring how the Clean Water State Revolving Fund can help address wastewater infrastructure challenges faced by small, rural, disadvantaged, and underserved communities. Features testimony from the Rural Community Assistance Partnership; Nueces River Authority; and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division.
Additional links: John Byrum, Nueces River Authority - Testimony, Olga Morales-Pate, Rural Community Assistance Partnership - Testimony, Shellie R. Chard, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality - Testimony
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
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MotherToBaby Gives Rural Pregnant and Breastfeeding Moms 'Fingertip Access' to Exposure Experts
Provides an overview of MotherToBaby, which works to educate pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their healthcare providers on the risks of exposures. Discusses how MotherToBaby's free services can support rural mothers, highlighting programs serving rural areas in Georgia and North Texas.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Health Outcomes, Clinical Care, Health Behaviors, and Social Determinants of Health and an Action-Oriented, Dynamic Tool for Visualizing Them
Examines county-level disparities in rural and urban health outcomes and presents a health equity dashboard depicting the disparities. Utilizes 2015 and 2019 County Health Rankings datasets to analyze measures such as health outcomes, clinical care, health behaviors, physical environment, and social and economic factors according to urban, suburban, and rural location.
Author(s): William B. Weeks, Ji E. Chang, José A. Pagán, et al.
Citation: PLOS Global Public Health, 3(10)
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
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"This Is Not My Grandmother's Summer": Rural Populations Are Uniquely Vulnerable to the Health Impacts of Extreme Heat
Discusses the challenges rural areas face in helping address the impact of heat on health. Includes strategies used in rural North Carolina, Indiana, and Washington State to help inform and protect rural residents, including those exposed to heat through work outdoors.
Author(s): Brendan Stermer
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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