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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health

Association Between Environmental Quality and Diabetes in the USA
Results of a study comparing diabetes prevalence in 3,134 urban or rural counties from 2004-2012, taking into account the possible effects of environmental pollutants. Features statistics with breakdowns by 4 levels of urban or rural status.
Author(s): Jyotsna S. Jagai, Alison K. Krajewski, Sabina Shaikh, Danelle T. Lobdell, Robert M. Sargis
Citation: Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 11(2), 315-324
Date: 10/2019
Type: Document
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Watered Down Justice
Report focuses on water quality standards, violations, and potential solutions, specifically for social and economic minority populations. Features county-level maps showing the intersection of various drinking water violations and length of violations with racial, ethnic, and language vulnerability.
Author(s): Kristi Pullen Fedinick, Steve Taylor, Michele Roberts
Date: 09/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Coming Clean, Environmental Justice Health Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council
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African American Exposure to Prescribed Fire Smoke in Georgia, USA
Study examining exposure to air pollution from prescribed burning affecting predominantly African American communities in rural Georgia. Discusses conservation-based prescribed burning practices in Georgia and land ownership dynamics, offering a census tract analysis of African American, Hispanic American, and White residence in relation to burn areas. Provides maps indicating spatial distribution of burn permits for conservation lands, government lands, commercial lands, and private landowner lands with approximate percentages of African American population for each census tract.
Author(s): Cassandra Johnson Gaither, Sadia Afrin, Fernando Garcia-Menendez, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(17), 3079
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
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Development of a Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index
Findings brief describing the development of a childhood obesogenic environment index using 10 variables related to physical activity and healthy eating. Discusses differences in the childhood obesogenic environment index data by rurality and region of the United States.
Author(s): Andrew T. Kaczynski, Jan M. Eberth, Angela D. Liese, et al.
Date: 08/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Working Together to Improve Environmental Health in Colorado
Discusses the process of 3 rural and 3 frontier counties in Colorado partnering to provide environmental health services for their local areas. Features the results of the collaboration as well as strategies to create successful partnerships and governance.
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Sharing Public Health Services
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Health Needs Assessment of Five Pennsylvania Plain Populations
Offers the results of a health needs assessment for 5 Anabaptist Pennsylvania Plain communities compared with the general state population. Discusses prevalence of genetic diseases and mental health conditions, screenings and vaccinations, and general health outcomes. Provides data on demographics, nutrition, environmental health, and health conditions taken from household surveys conducted in 2014 and 2015 which were designed to represent Plain community views of modern medicine.
Author(s): Kirk Miller, Berwood Yost, Christina Abbott, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2378
Date: 07/2019
Type: Document
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Running Clear: Preventing Private Water Sources from Becoming a Health Hazard in Rural America
Provides an overview of the potential contaminants in well water and describes how the safety of private water sources is maintained. Features water experts and a public health professional explaining what can be done to keep well water clean, including water testing, education and training, funding, and technical assistance.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Life and Breath: How Air Pollution Affects Health in Minnesota
Provides a report and data on the health impacts of pollution in Minnesota. Discusses sources of air pollution; health impacts attributable to pollution; and differences in impacts by rural/urban location, poverty rate, health insurance coverage, and race/ethnicity. Includes maps with county-level data on air pollution health-related events.
Additional links: Full Report, Mapping the Data
Author(s): David Bael, Kathy Raleigh
Date: 06/2019
Type: Website
Sponsoring organization: Minnesota Department of Health
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Resource Guide: Promising Programs in Native American Communities
Highlights promising programs for tribal communities in Montana. Features programs to support mental health and suicide prevention, substance abuse, social determinants of health, and diabetes prevention, among other issues.
Date: 05/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Montana Healthcare Foundation
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LIFT America: Modernizing Our Infrastructure for the Future
Recording of a hearing from the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce regarding the Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow's America Act (The LIFT America Act), which addresses access to broadband; the healthcare, energy, transportation, and water infrastructures; public health; and more. Includes testimonies from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Trust for America's Health, U.S. Conference of Mayors, American Enterprise Institute, BlueGreen Alliance, and the former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner.
Additional links: Christopher Guith Testimony, Daniel Lyons Testimony, Jessica Eckdish Testimony, John Auerbach Testimony, Mignon Clyburn Testimony
Date: 05/2019
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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