Environmental Policy

Asthma, heart disease, neurological diseases, cancers, and birth defects all are influenced by environmental contaminants. In addition, the built environment can harm our health through poor-quality housing and the lack of safe areas to walk, work, and play. This adds up to costly treatment, lost productivity, and premature death.

People in some communities are exposed to many environmental hazards, such as living close to heavy traffic and to facilities that produce hazardous waste. We need better data on these hazards, and we need to involve communities in the decisions that affect their health.

Health Research for Action collaborates with researchers, advocates, policymakers, and affected communities to develop policy solutions that address such questions as:

• What do communities need to know about environmental hazards so they can protect their health?
• How can concerned residents help to collect data on potential or known hazards?
• How can informed community members influence policies to prevent, reduce, or mitigate environmental hazards?
• What changes to policies and practices are needed to reduce people's health risks and promote healthier behaviors, such as physical activity?