It’s time to create homes that support, not sabotage, our wellbeing.
Words Lisa Sternfeld
On World Health Day, the focus is often on healthcare access and disease prevention, but true public health starts at home. Around the world, including here in the US, millions of people live in homes that quietly undermine their health – whether through poor air quality, unsafe water or exposure to toxic materials. The World Health Organization has long recognized the connection between housing and wellbeing, yet we continue to treat home health as secondary to medical care rather than an essential part of it. If we want a healthier future, we have to start where we live – because no one should have to choose between an affordable home and a safe one. Clean air, pure water and non-toxic materials aren’t luxuries; they should be the foundation of every living space. It’s time to rethink the materials and systems we rely on and make healthy homes central to the public health conversation, not an afterthought.
"If we want a healthier future, we have to start where we live – because no one should have to choose between an affordable home and a safe one."
The Hidden Health Hazards at Home
Indoor Air Quality
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air and can even reach 100 times more polluted, which is a concern considering we spend up to 90 percent of our lives indoors. Poor ventilation, mold, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and dust contribute to respiratory issues.
Toxic Materials
The Environmental Working Group believes that virtually everybody in the US is exposed to phthalates, which are used in vinyl flooring and wall coverings. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been associated with asthma, developmental issues and reproductive problems. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology detected 55 different flame retardant chemicals in household dust, with 41 found in at least 50 percent of the samples. These chemicals, aside from being carcinogenic, are associated with hormonal imbalances, reduced cognitive abilities, neurological issues and developmental delays in children.
Water Contamination
The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that up to 77 million people in the US are served by water systems with violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, putting them at risk for gastrointestinal and neurological illnesses. A report by the Environmental Working Group found that the forever chemicals, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), which are linked to cancer, liver damage and immune system harm, are present in the drinking water of over 200 million Americans, despite lacking enforceable federal limits.
Healthy living should not be a privilege. Yet, for so many people around the world, the place they call home isn't the sanctuary it should be. Whether through unsafe drinking water, poor air quality or invisible toxins in walls, floors and furniture, our living environments are often overlooked in public health conversations. This World Health Day, let’s challenge the notion that safe, healthy housing is a luxury. Instead, let’s commit to the idea that everyone deserves to live in a space that supports their health – physically, mentally and emotionally. Clean air, clean water and non-toxic materials are basic human needs. It’s time to ensure that home is a place where health begins.
Feature Image: Barnegat Barns in Pound Ridge, NY, by architect Rafe Churchill and Interior Designer Brad Ford, styled by Colin King, photo by Stephen Johnson