Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health
Estimating Emergency Department Utilization of Select Drugs during Extreme Heat Events
Examines excess emergency department (ED) visits and drug utilization surges for heat-related illness. Utilizes medical claims data to analyze heatwave related illnesses and provides modeling that predicts associated ED visits and drug utilization surges. Includes a county-level U.S. map showing days of extreme heat each year and discusses the impact on rural areas.
Author(s): Daniel McGeeney, Shruti Rathnavel, Emily McAden, Clifton Dassuncao, Aylin Sertkaya
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Eastern Research Group, Inc., HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines excess emergency department (ED) visits and drug utilization surges for heat-related illness. Utilizes medical claims data to analyze heatwave related illnesses and provides modeling that predicts associated ED visits and drug utilization surges. Includes a county-level U.S. map showing days of extreme heat each year and discusses the impact on rural areas.
Author(s): Daniel McGeeney, Shruti Rathnavel, Emily McAden, Clifton Dassuncao, Aylin Sertkaya
Date: 09/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Eastern Research Group, Inc., HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Sun Protection Behavior Beliefs Among Adults Living in Rural United States: A Qualitative Study in Minnesota
Presents a study on perceptions and beliefs about sun-protective behavior among rural Minnesotans. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, such as age, education, and whether participants had an outdoor job, among other measures. Looks at time spent outside and discusses participants' perceptions about protective behaviors.
Author(s): Patricia Jewett, Matia Solomon, Katherine Brown, et al.
Citation: PLOS One 20(9)
Date: 09/2025
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Presents a study on perceptions and beliefs about sun-protective behavior among rural Minnesotans. Breaks down data by demographic characteristics, such as age, education, and whether participants had an outdoor job, among other measures. Looks at time spent outside and discusses participants' perceptions about protective behaviors.
Author(s): Patricia Jewett, Matia Solomon, Katherine Brown, et al.
Citation: PLOS One 20(9)
Date: 09/2025
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Natural Disasters and Resiliency in Central Appalachia
Discusses issues such as natural disasters, flooding, resource extraction, infrastructure, housing stock, and more in central and rural Appalachia. Focuses on investment and strategies to improve resilience.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Discusses issues such as natural disasters, flooding, resource extraction, infrastructure, housing stock, and more in central and rural Appalachia. Focuses on investment and strategies to improve resilience.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Uranium Exposure, Hypertension, and Blood Pressure in the Strong Heart Family Study
Examines the correlation between uranium exposure and health conditions such as hypertension and blood pressure changes in rural, tribal communities. Analyzes health status and uranium levels of 1,453 participants in the Strong Heart Family Study. Discusses rock and soil health, groundwater, and surface water contamination as factors in uranium exposure.
Author(s): Kevin P. Patterson, Abigail Onderwyzer Gold, Miranda J. Spratlen, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 04/2025
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Examines the correlation between uranium exposure and health conditions such as hypertension and blood pressure changes in rural, tribal communities. Analyzes health status and uranium levels of 1,453 participants in the Strong Heart Family Study. Discusses rock and soil health, groundwater, and surface water contamination as factors in uranium exposure.
Author(s): Kevin P. Patterson, Abigail Onderwyzer Gold, Miranda J. Spratlen, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 04/2025
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Rural Areas Have More Older People Exposed to Greater Wildfire Risk
Bar chart comparing the number of adults 60 or older with moderate, high, or highest risk of wildfire exposure by rurality.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Bar chart comparing the number of adults 60 or older with moderate, high, or highest risk of wildfire exposure by rurality.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Carcinogenic Air Pollutants and Breast Cancer Risk in the Arkansas Rural Community Health Study: A Nested Case-Control Study
Examines associations between hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and breast cancer incidence among rural Arkansas women, utilizing National Air Toxics Assessment and Arkansas Rural Community Health study data. Analyzes breast cancer incidence and exposure to individual pollutants, pollutant mix, and family history of breast cancer.
Author(s): Edgar T Ellis, Sean G Young, Rachel Carroll, et al.
Citation: Environmental Pollution, 368, 125709
Date: 01/2025
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Examines associations between hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and breast cancer incidence among rural Arkansas women, utilizing National Air Toxics Assessment and Arkansas Rural Community Health study data. Analyzes breast cancer incidence and exposure to individual pollutants, pollutant mix, and family history of breast cancer.
Author(s): Edgar T Ellis, Sean G Young, Rachel Carroll, et al.
Citation: Environmental Pollution, 368, 125709
Date: 01/2025
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Lessons for Human Services: Perspectives of Program Participants on Extreme Weather and Environmental Hazards
Examines how human services programs mitigate issues caused by environmental hazards and extreme weather for low-income and underresourced communities. Utilizes qualitative data from 41 participants, with a focus on impacts of trash and garbage, flooding, air and water quality, extreme heat, and other environmental conditions. Includes commentary about hazards specific to rural areas.
Author(s): Anne Junod, Pamela Winston, Maretta McDonald, Mikaela Tajo, Rebecca Marx
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examines how human services programs mitigate issues caused by environmental hazards and extreme weather for low-income and underresourced communities. Utilizes qualitative data from 41 participants, with a focus on impacts of trash and garbage, flooding, air and water quality, extreme heat, and other environmental conditions. Includes commentary about hazards specific to rural areas.
Author(s): Anne Junod, Pamela Winston, Maretta McDonald, Mikaela Tajo, Rebecca Marx
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Disparities in Allergy and Asthma Prevalence among Schoolteachers
Examines prevalence of allergic and respiratory symptoms among 398 schoolteachers in Massachusetts. Includes comparisons between teachers in rural, suburban, and urban schools for health behaviors and factors associated with adverse breathing symptoms, including headache, sleep apnea, food allergy, nighttime awakening, sore throat, and more.
Author(s): Hana B. Ruran, Briana L. Mallouh, Lisa M. Bartnikas, Wanda Phipatanakul, Abhinav Kaushik
Citation: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155(1), 223-227
Date: 01/2025
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Examines prevalence of allergic and respiratory symptoms among 398 schoolteachers in Massachusetts. Includes comparisons between teachers in rural, suburban, and urban schools for health behaviors and factors associated with adverse breathing symptoms, including headache, sleep apnea, food allergy, nighttime awakening, sore throat, and more.
Author(s): Hana B. Ruran, Briana L. Mallouh, Lisa M. Bartnikas, Wanda Phipatanakul, Abhinav Kaushik
Citation: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155(1), 223-227
Date: 01/2025
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Rooted in Resilience: Investing in Rural Futures: Empowering Rural and Tribal Communities Through Partnership, Advocacy, and Action - RCAP's Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Report
Details the accomplishments of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) in FY 2024. Highlights RCAP's programs and partnerships supporting infrastructure and community development in rural and tribal areas, including drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste initiatives.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Details the accomplishments of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) in FY 2024. Highlights RCAP's programs and partnerships supporting infrastructure and community development in rural and tribal areas, including drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste initiatives.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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State of the Air
Provides a variety of tools and report cards on air quality across the United States. Includes data on cleanest cities, most polluted cities, location comparisons, and air quality data breakdowns at the state and county level. Shows number of residents per county at risk for health complications due to air quality.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
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Provides a variety of tools and report cards on air quality across the United States. Includes data on cleanest cities, most polluted cities, location comparisons, and air quality data breakdowns at the state and county level. Shows number of residents per county at risk for health complications due to air quality.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: American Lung Association
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