Environmental and agricultural health
Research Products & Journal Articles
Browse the full list of research publications on this topic completed by the Rural Health Research Centers.
Products – Freely accessible products include policy briefs, fact sheets, full reports, chartbooks, and interactive data websites.
Journal Articles – Articles in peer-reviewed journals may require a subscription or affiliation with a subscribing library. For these publications, Gateway lists the article citation, a brief summary, a link to additional information and access to the full-text of the article, if available.
2024
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Geographic Variations in Urban-Rural Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Concentrations in the United States, 2010–2019
Journal Article
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 09/2024
The purpose of this project was to compare fine particulate matter 2.5 across U.S. Census tracts, specifically focusing on rural vs. urban differences between 2010 and 2019.
2023
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Assessing Key Indicators of Rural Versus Urban Water Quality
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 08/2023
This study presents a summary of water quality monitoring data sources and models, identifies the gaps that persist, and proposes the salient categories and types of data that should be contained in a national water quality monitoring database to accurately describe rural water quality. -
Assessing Geographic Variability in Key Indicators of Air Quality: A Rural vs. Urban Comparison of Pollution and Socio-Economic Factors
Policy Brief
Rural and Minority Health Research Center
Date: 03/2023
The purpose of this study was to examine rates of air pollution between rural and urban census tracts. In addition, urban-rural disparities in exposure to polluted air across Environmental Protection Agency-defined regions were examined.
2022
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Estimating Mortality From Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Pneumoconiosis Using Binary Regressions for Spatially Sparse Data
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 02/2022
This study estimates mortality from coal workers' pneumoconiosis and other pneumoconioses among Medicare beneficiaries using the 5% Medicare Limited Claims Data Set, 2011-2014. -
Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress
Policy Brief
RUPRI Health Panel: Rural Policy Analysis and Applications
Date: 02/2022
Economic fluctuations and periods of distress in farming cannot be eliminated, however, their impact on communities and individuals can be mitigated. Strategies for meeting the behavioral health needs of farm families by supporting community-based services, and expanding behavioral health services in rural contexts are highlighted in this work.
2021
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Suicide Mortality Rates in Farm-Related Occupations and the Agriculture Industry in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 09/2021
This article examines suicide mortality among agricultural workers comparing rural and urban residents using pooled data from the Mortality‐Linked National Health Interview Survey, 1986–2014. -
"They're Not Leaving Their Home; This Is Where They Were Born, This Is Where They Will Die.": Key Informant Perspectives From the U.S. Counties With the Greatest Concentration of the Oldest Old
Journal Article
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2021
Researchers share interview results with key informants from 50 rural U.S. counties with the highest percentage of the residents ages 85 and older or the "oldest old." Respondents shared unique challenges to serving this population, as well as positive attributes of rural communities that make them attractive places for growing older. -
Spatial Analysis of Healthcare Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis and Other Related Pneumoconiosis
Policy Brief
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 04/2021
Miners risk developing coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) and other pneumoconiosis. This study determines, maps, and analyzes the spatial patterns of healthcare utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with black lung disease and other related pneumoconiosis using the Medicare beneficiaries Limited Data Set from 2011-2014.
2020
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Mortality Among Workers Employed in the Mining Industry in the United States: A 29‐Year Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey—Linked Mortality File, 1986‐2014
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 07/2020
Working in the mining industry increases the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. We investigated overall and cause‐specific mortality rates among workers employed in the mining sector in the U.S. -
Estimating the Prevalence and Spatial Clusters of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Cases Using Medicare Claims Data, 2011‐2014
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 03/2020
Workers in the coal mining sector are at increased risk of respiratory diseases, including coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). We investigated the prevalence of CWP and its association with sociodemographic factors among Medicare beneficiaries. We found evidence of significant spatial clustering of CWP in the states and population analyzed.
2019
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The Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Among Current and Ex-Miners in the United States
Journal Article
Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
Date: 12/2019
This paper compares the prevalence and odds of chronic diseases among ex-miners and current miners, adjusting for certain variables that might influence health outcomes. The analysis found that the prevalence of chronic disease is significantly higher among ex-miners.
2013
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The Current State of Agricultural Health Research and Practice: Critical Review (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 09/2013
The report provides an overview of the present state of agricultural health research for healthcare policy makers and providers. -
Agricultural Health Training for Rural America
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2013
This report locates agricultural health programs and courses and describes collaborations that exist between clinicians and agriculture-related agencies.
2012
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Childhood Asthma in Rural-Urban Areas
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2012
This policy brief examines how asthma may be related to rural areas adjacent or non-adjacent to larger population centers, to variation in measures of air quality, to varying levels of agricultural and animal production, and to other characteristics such as obesity, race/ethnicity, or health insurance. -
Childhood Asthma in Rural-Urban Areas (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2012
This report examines how asthma may be related to rural areas adjacent or non-adjacent to larger population centers, to variation in measures of air quality, to varying levels of agricultural and animal production, and to other characteristics such as obesity, race/ethnicity, or health insurance. -
Water Fluoridation and Dental Health Indicators in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 01/2012
This policy brief investigates the availability of fluoridated water across urban and rural settings.
2011
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Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2011
This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. -
Environmental Workforce Characteristics in the Rural Public Health Sector (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 12/2011
This project analyzed the environmental workforce characteristics of the rural public health sector to inform policy relative to coordination of rural environmental health services. -
Water Fluoridation and Dental Health Indicators in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 11/2011
This study investigated the availability of fluoridated water across urban-rural settings and relates measures of fluoride availability to national survey measures of dental health in adults and children. -
A Rural Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Resiliency Index and Associated Health Outcomes
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 07/2011
These analyses provide evidence to support the development of programs and policies that foster educational development, and economic diversity and vitality, as means of public health improvement, especially in rural areas in selected regions of the country. -
Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2011
This project will examine rural and urban food security/availability. It will test the hypotheses that food insecurity will differ significantly between rural/urban counties and that there will be a significant relationship between food insecurity and availability and selected adverse health outcomes in non-metropolitan counties. -
Patterns of Food Insecurity, Food Availability, and Health Outcomes Among Rural and Urban Counties (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 06/2011
Rural counties are disproportionately associated with high food insecurity risk relative to urban counties. Programs and policies may focus on improving food availability and access for rural populations. -
Determining Satisfaction With Access and Financial Aspects of Care for Persons Exposed to Libby Amphibole Asbestos: Rural and National Environmental Policy Implications
Journal Article
Date: 05/2011
The rural community of Libby, Montana is the epidemiological epicenter of asbestos-related disease with mortality rates 40-80 times higher when compared to rates in Montana and the U.S. Findings indicated the Libby cohort was significantly less satisfied with access and financial aspects of care. -
Psychosocial Health Status of Persons Seeking Treatment for Exposure to Libby Amphibole Asbestos
Journal Article
FORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Date: 05/2011
A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted to describe the psychosocial health status of persons seeking healthcare for exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos. -
A Rural Socioeconomic Risk and Resiliency Inventory and Associated Health Outcomes (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2011
Rural areas, especially in the Southeast, Appalachia, and parts of the West, have worse VRI (Vulnerability and Resiliency Index) scores, which are a measure of six socioeconomic indicators across counties in the United States.
2010
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Toxics Release Inventory Discharges and Population Health Outcomes in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 08/2010
This report examined if chemical releases from facilities monitored in the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program were associated with population mortality rates and birth outcomes for rural/urban populations. It also examined whether rural/urban areas with poor socioeconomic status or higher percentages of minorities had greater TRI releases. -
Key Environmental Health Competencies for Rural Primary Care Providers
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 05/2010
Providing healthcare that considers environmental determinants of health, environmental impact on health, and outcomes attributed to environmental issues is complex because of the need for providers to be competent not only in social and health sciences, but also in environmental health concepts. -
Key Environmental Health Competencies for Rural Primary Care Providers (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 03/2010
The purpose of this study was to develop a set of basic environmental health competencies that are needed by all rural primary care providers to direct healthcare and education policy. -
Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2010
Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates, adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity. -
Pollution Sources and Mortality Rates across Rural-Urban Areas in the United States (Final Report)
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 02/2010
Rural counties contain more than 65,000 EPA-recognized point pollution sources. A greater density of water and air pollution sources in rural counties is associated with higher cancer mortality rates, adjusting for other risks. Rural areas also experience mortality risks in association with coal mining activity. -
Toxics Release Inventory Discharges and Population Health Outcomes in Rural and Urban Areas of the United States
Policy Brief
West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
Date: 2010
Examined whether chemical releases from facilities monitored through the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program were associated with population mortality rates for both rural and urban populations.
2009
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Rural Public Health Policy Models to Address an Evolving Environmental Asbestos Disaster
Journal Article
FORHP-funded Individual Grantees
Date: 2009
Describes the history and outcomes of asbestos exposure in the Libby, Montana community and discusses 3 models that provide public health policy insights related to rural health and health care for a community affected by both a sentinel and ongoing environmental event.