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Green Public Housing and Health

10/29/2015 | American Journal of Public Health

Green public housing may reduce health risks from environmental pollutants.

Low-income housing residents who live in green buildings that are built with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient features appear to have fewer “sick building” symptoms than residents of traditionally constructed low-income housing, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Asthma outcomes—hospitalizations, attacks, and missed school days due to asthma—were also significantly lower for children living in the green buildings.

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Paper

“Health Benefits of Green Public Housing: Associations With Asthma Morbidity and Building-Related Symptoms.” Meryl D. Colton, Gary Adamkiewicz, Memo Cedeño Laurent, and John D. Spengler.  American Journal of Public Health 105, no. 12 (December 1, 2015): pp. 2482-2489. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302793

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