2024Journal article

Delineating Urbanicity and Rurality: Impact on Environmental Exposure Assessment

Song, Y., Deziel, N. C., & Bell, M. L.

Environmental Science & Technology

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Research question

How do alternative urban–rural definitions change environmental exposure comparisons?

Geographic scope

Virginia and West Virginia · United States

Evidence base

Nine population and built-environment indicators

Approach

Multiple classification systems based on population, commuting, night-time light and built-environment indicators are compared for demographic composition and exposure patterns.

Why it matters

The study demonstrates that an apparently simple geographic definition can change both the magnitude and direction of urban–rural disparities.

Research connections

Where this paper sits in the lab’s research system