Diffrences In Health Symptoms Between Residents Of Green And Conventional Low-Income Housing

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

INTRODUCTION: Indoor environmental exposures are known to be elevated in low-income households, and these exposures have been linked to a wide range of health outcomes. Housing interventions aimed at lowering exposures have the potential to improve health across both physical and mental health domains. METHODS: We performed 423 home visits with 235 unique participants to compare indoor environmental conditions and health outcomes between residents living in green and conventional low-income multi-family housing in Boston, MA. We recorded self-reported symptoms and healthcare utilization across several domains, including: building-related symptoms (14 measures over past 30 days, summed into an overall index), asthma morbidity (symptoms and healthcare utilization) and days with depressive symptoms (4 measures over past two weeks; summed into an overall index). We also conducted visual inspections to assess home conditions related to environmental exposures. RESULTS: We found that adult respondents living in green units reported 1.4 (95%CI: 0.66, 2.05) fewer symptoms than those living in control homes. Children's asthma exacerbations were also all lower in the green homes, and in models adjusted for season, this resulted in 0.34 (95% CI: 0.12, 1.00), 0.31 (0.11, 0.88), 0.24 (0.06, 0.88), and 0.21 (0.06, 0.74) times the odds of children experiencing asthma symptoms, asthma attacks, hospital visits, or missed school (respectively). Adults living in green homes experienced 3.52 (p=0.008) fewer total days with depression symptoms compared to those in control homes. Significant differences for several environmental indicators were observed (results not shown). CONCLUSIONS: Low-income participants living in green homes had improved health outcomes across several domains, compared to those living in conventional housing. These changes were associated with reductions in specific indoor environmental exposures as well as the cumulative effect of living in a green home.