Extreme temperatures, both cold and hot, bring greater mortality risk to people living in China’s rural communities than in urban areas, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The disparity between urban and rural mortality risk was found across the entire population, but was greater for women than men, and for people over 65.

“These findings go against the general assumption that urban residents are at a higher risk due to the urban heat island effect, which raises temperatures in cities compared to surrounding areas,” says IIASA researcher Stefan Hochrainer-Stigler (IIASA)