Journal article
Geographic Variations in Urban‐Rural Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) Concentrations in the United States, 2010–2019
Geohealth, v 8(9)
02 Sep 2024
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Abstract Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5 ) is a widely studied pollutant with substantial health impacts, yet little is known about the urban‐rural differences across the United States. Trends of PM 2.5 in urban and rural census tracts between 2010 and 2019 were assessed alongside sociodemographic characteristics including race/ethnicity, poverty, and age. For 2010, we identified 13,474 rural tracts and 59,065 urban tracts. In 2019, 13,462 were rural and 59,055 urban. Urban tracts had significantly higher PM 2.5 concentrations than rural tracts during this period. Levels of PM 2.5 were lower in rural tracts compared to urban and fell more rapidly in rural than urban. Rural tract annual means for 2010 and 2019 were 8.51 [2.24] μg/m 3 and 6.41 [1.29] μg/m 3 , respectively. Urban tract annual means for 2010 and 2019 were 9.56 [2.04] μg/m 3 and 7.51 [1.40] μg/m 3 , respectively. Rural and urban majority Black communities had significantly higher PM 2.5 pollution levels (10.19 [1.64] μg/m 3 and 9.79 [1.10] μg/m 3 respectively), in 2010. In 2019, they were: 7.75 [1.1] μg/m 3 and 7.09 [0.78] μg/m 3 , respectively. Majority Hispanic communities had higher PM 2.5 levels and were the highest urban concentration among all races/ethnicities (8.01 [1.73] μg/m 3 ), however they were not the highest rural concentration among all races/ethnicities (6.22 [1.60] μg/m 3 ) in 2019. Associations with higher levels of PM 2.5 were found with communities in the poorest quartile and with higher proportions of residents age<15 years old. These findings suggest greater protections for those disproportionately exposed to PM 2.5 are needed, such as, increasing the availability of low‐cost air quality monitors.
Plain Language Summary PM 2.5 is a well‐known air pollutant that impacts human health. However, little is known about how it differs between urban and rural areas in the United States (U.S). This study investigated these differences between 2010 and 2019 at a level that had not been assessed before across the United States. Rural areas generally had lower PM 2.5 levels compared to urban areas and the pollution decreased faster in rural areas during this time. Both rural and urban areas with higher proportions of residents that are Black, Hispanic, and in poverty had higher PM 2.5 levels. There were no consistent patterns between the age distribution of urban or rural census tracts and PM 2.5 levels.
Key Points Between 2010 and 2019, PM 2.5 levels were consistently lower in rural communities than in urban communities across the United States High percentage Black communities had significantly higher PM 2.5 pollution levels in both rural and urban census tracts Greater protection from air pollution for socially disadvantaged communities in both rural and urban settings is warranted
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Details
- Title
- Geographic Variations in Urban‐Rural Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) Concentrations in the United States, 2010–2019
- Creators
- Daniel J. Kilpatrick - University of South CarolinaPeiyin Hung - University of South CarolinaElizabeth Crouch - University of South CarolinaStella Self - University of South CarolinaJeremy Cothran - University of South CarolinaDwayne E. Porter - University of South CarolinaJan M. Eberth - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Geohealth, v 8(9)
- Publisher
- AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION; WASHINGTON
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services: U1C45498
All co-authors have seen and agree with the contents of the manuscript and there is no financial interest to report. We certify that the submission is original work and is not under review at any other publication. This project was supported in part by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement No. U1C45498. The information, conclusions, and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and no endorsement by FORHP, HRSA, or HHS is intended or should be inferred.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001303669300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85202992410
- Other Identifier
- 991021902060504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences
- Public, Environmental & Occupational Health