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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health

Allergy, Asthma, and Respiratory Disease Surveillance among American Indians in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah
Examines the prevalence of asthma, allergies, and respiratory disease among Native Americans in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, including related hospital admissions and mortality rates. Addresses risk factors such as tobacco use and wildfire smoke, along with prevention and treatment efforts. Identifies action items for tribes, public health professionals, and individuals.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, American Indian Research Center for Health
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The Amish Have Decreased Asthma and Allergic Diseases Compared to Old Order Mennonites
Compares allergic disease prevalence among Wisconsin Amish to prevalence among Old Order Mennonites. Discusses the potential role of farm environmental factors in protecting against allergic diseases. Includes statistics and data on self- and doctor-reported prevalence of eczema, asthma, food allergies, or hay fever.
Author(s): Jamee C Tantoco, Jordan Elliott Bontrager, Qianqian Zhao, James DeLine, Christine M Seroogy
Citation: Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 121(2), 252–253.e1
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
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Health Services Utilization in Asthma Exacerbations and PM10 Levels in Rural Colorado
Study examining the relationship between increased air levels of particulate matter with a diameter below 10 micrometers (PM10) and the number of asthma-related emergency/urgent visits and hospitalizations (EUH) in rural Colorado. Includes average EUHs and PM10 concentrations by day of week, month, and year from 2003-2012. Provides data from a biethnic population of White and Hispanic/Latino individuals, including breakdowns by age.
Author(s): Katherine James, Matthew Strand, Mika Hamer, Lisa Cicutto
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 15(8), 947-954
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
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Oregon's State Health Assessment, 2018
Reports on the overall health of residents in state of Oregon. Includes information on social determinants of health, environmental health, prevention and health promotion, and other topics. Covers urban, rural, frontier statistics for economic disparities; educational attainment; food insecurity; homelessness; adult suicide rates; chronic disease; mortality; oral, primary care, and behavioral health workforce; communicable disease; and access to healthcare services.
Additional links: En Español
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Health Authority
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Ecological Approaches to Promoting Active Living and Preventing Childhood Obesity
Features the opening keynote presentation by Dr. Jim Sallis at the 2018 Heartland Childhood Obesity Summit - Factors of Health: Addressing the Systems Influencing Childhood Obesity. Covers discussion on ecological models and evidence of environmental roles influencing active living and obesity in youth. Describes environmental disparities and mentions tool to assess rural communities' physical environment features and amenities, town characteristics, and other factors influencing rural residents physical activity.
Author(s): James Sallis
Date: 06/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Children's Mercy Hospital, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Making Connections Rural Health Series
Describes multiple components influencing rural health, including: access to care, the built and natural environment, education, health insurance, technology, rural economics, and system perspectives. Supplements the Understanding the Rural Landscape Learning Module. Focuses on addressing challenges rural communities faces with innovative solutions.
Additional links: Download Zip File
Date: 06/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Kissing Bug and Chagas Disease: What You Need to Know
Highlights identification information for the Chagas-disease-carrying kissing bugs in the Southern U.S. Presents county-level data for Texas.
Date: 06/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Texas Chagas Taskforce
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Mold and Asthma: A Look at Co-Occurrence in Two Rural Communities in California
Reports on a study of mold and asthma prevalence in two rural, primarily low-income, migrant farmworker communities. Covers housing type, income, occupation, gender, the percent of children and adults with asthma, and mold types and amounts. Compares results to national averages.
Author(s): Ryan Sinclair, Charity Russell, Genevieve Kray, Stephen Vesper, Gail Wadsworth
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: California Institute for Rural Studies
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Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Federal Agency Needs Assessment and Coordination on Tribal Projects
Reports on the state of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure on tribal lands. Features recommendations for the Indian Health Service and the USDA to address these needs.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 05/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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A Task-Based Analysis of Black Carbon Exposure in Iowa Farmers During Harvest
Reports on a study that measures black carbon concentrations as an indicator for diesel exhaust exposure in farmers over a 20-day period during the harvest season in southeast Iowa. Identifies the frequency and levels of exposure to black carbon associated with diesel-related activities and determines if these levels are above concentrations found in urban environments.
Author(s): Emma M. Stapleton, Patrick T. O'Shaughnessy, Sarah J. Locke, et al.
Citation: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 15(4), 293–304
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
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