A perspective on how our environment shapes human health and wellbeing
When I was first offered the position of Editor-in-Chief at Environmental Health Perspectives, I found myself reflecting on a simple question: Why does environmental health matter to the average person? The answer came to me not from a textbook, but from watching children playing soccer in a local park on a day when air quality warnings had been issued. Their laughter continued unabated, completely unaware of the invisible threats they might be breathing in. This image remains for me a powerful reminder that our environment isn't just an abstract concept—it's the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the spaces where we live, work, and play. It shapes our health in ways we're only beginning to fully understand.
Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) has been at the forefront of exploring these connections since 1972. As a monthly open-access journal supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 1 5 , EHP has established itself as a vital platform for communicating scientific findings that sit at the intersection of environment and human health. My vision as the new Editor-in-Chief is to build upon this legacy, making our journal not just a repository of knowledge, but a catalyst for change—a bridge between rigorous science and tangible improvements in human wellbeing.
Year EHP was established
Global deaths linked to environmental risks
Annual deaths from environmental factors
When we talk about environmental health, many people immediately think of pollution. While this is certainly a critical component, the field is far more expansive and interconnected. The World Health Organization defines environmental health as addressing all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors . This encompasses everything from the air we breathe and the water we drink to the design of our neighborhoods and the psychological impact of our surroundings.
The scope of this field becomes startlingly clear when we consider that nearly one in four global deaths—amounting to 13.7 million lives annually—are linked to modifiable environmental risks . This statistic isn't just a number; it represents millions of stories cut short by preventable environmental factors.
Several theoretical frameworks help us understand why and how our environment so profoundly affects our health:
The Tropical Savannah Theory of Well-being suggests that environmental factors that contributed to our ancestors' happiness continue to affect us today 6 . We are biologically predisposed to prefer environments that would have enhanced survival—those with ample sunlight, comfortable temperatures, and non-threatening conditions. When modern environments deviate sharply from these preferences, our wellbeing often suffers.
Where you live can significantly influence how your brain and body age. Recent research has identified that neighborhood-level factors—including socioeconomic disadvantage, environmental injustice, and social vulnerability—leave measurable biological traces linked to chronic disease 2 . These place-based determinants often cluster together, creating cumulative impacts on health that we're only beginning to quantify.
| Index Name | What It Measures | Health Connections |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Justice Index (EJI) | Cumulative impacts of environmental burdens (pollution, toxic waste sites, etc.) | Associated with cerebral blood flow variability linked to Alzheimer's risk 2 |
| Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) | Community preparedness and resilience to disasters | Linked to cortical thickness and brain health markers 2 |
| Area Deprivation Index (ADI) | Socioeconomic disadvantages at neighborhood level | Associated with lower cerebral blood flow and cortical thickness 2 |
Recent research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine provides compelling evidence of just how deeply our environments become embedded in our biology. Published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging, this pioneering study reveals that neighborhood inequality leaves measurable traces in biological systems relevant to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias 2 .
"The associations between neighborhood disadvantages and unfavorable brain biomarkers were pronounced specifically among Black participants and those already experiencing cognitive impairments." 2
The research team recruited over 600 Black and White participants aged 54 years or older 2 . They employed a multi-faceted approach:
Researchers mapped participant addresses against three established indices: the Area Deprivation Index (measuring socioeconomic disadvantage), the Social Vulnerability Index (measuring community resilience), and the Environmental Justice Index (measuring environmental burdens) 2 .
Participants underwent comprehensive assessment through neuroimaging and plasma biomarkers specifically associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias 2 .
The team employed sophisticated statistical models to examine associations between place-based indices and biological markers, while controlling for relevant individual factors and testing for effect modification by race and cognitive status 2 .
The findings revealed disturbing disparities with profound implications for brain health:
| Factor | Black Participants | White Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood Indices | Higher scores on all three indices (ADI, SVI, EJI) 2 | Lower scores across all indices 2 |
| Environmental Exposures | Living in areas with higher pollution, toxic waste disposal sites, and chronic disease burdens 2 | Relatively less environmental burden 2 |
| Brain Health Associations | Higher SVI/EJI associated with cerebral blood flow variability; Higher ADI associated with lower cerebral blood flow 2 | Only modest negative association between SVI and one plasma biomarker 2 |
These findings suggest that the place-based distribution of resources and opportunities may differentially impact Alzheimer's biomarkers based on racialized identities and experiences, potentially reflecting the long shadow of structural racism 2 .
The growing understanding of environment-health connections is powered by innovative research tools that allow scientists to measure, analyze, and intervene in increasingly precise ways. These resources, many developed through collaborative initiatives like the ACS Green Chemistry Institute's Pharmaceutical Roundtable, are making environmental health research more accessible and actionable than ever before 4 .
| Tool Name | Primary Function | Application in Research |
|---|---|---|
| Solvent Selection Guide | Rates solvents based on health, safety, and environmental criteria | Helps researchers choose safer laboratory alternatives, reducing workplace and environmental exposures 4 |
| Process Mass Intensity (PMI) Calculator | Quantifies materials used in creating a product | Enables assessment of environmental footprint of manufacturing processes 4 |
| Green Chemistry Innovation Scorecard | Illustrates impact of innovation on waste reduction during manufacturing | Captures impact of green process inventiveness and improvements 4 |
| Environmental Health Toolkits (ATSDR) | Provides guidance on communicating risks and protecting vulnerable populations | Helps translate complex environmental health concepts for communities and healthcare providers 7 |
| Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit | Offers guidance for healthcare providers on environmental exposures | Helps protect vulnerable pediatric populations from environmental threats 7 |
As I step into my role as Editor-in-Chief, I see three critical pathways forward for our field:
We must deepen our understanding of the cumulative impacts of environmental exposures. Most current research examines environmental factors in isolation, yet humans encounter countless environmental stressors simultaneously throughout our lives. The Wake Forest study importantly moves beyond single-exposure models by using composite indices, but we need even more sophisticated approaches that can capture the complex interactions between multiple environmental and social factors 2 .
We must expand our focus on environmental justice. The disturbing racial disparities identified in the Wake Forest research aren't anomalous; they reflect patterns repeated across countless environmental health studies 2 . We cannot achieve true public health protection without addressing the structural factors that create and maintain these disparities. This will require not just documenting inequities, but actively supporting research that identifies effective interventions to redress them.
We need to bridge the gap between knowledge and action more effectively. The WHO emphasizes that strengthening primary prevention through environmental interventions offers substantial reductions in disease burden and potential savings in healthcare costs . Tools like those developed by the ACS Green Chemistry Institute represent important steps in this direction, making sustainable practices more accessible across industries 4 .
The science is clear: our health is inextricably linked to the health of our environments. From the air quality in our neighborhoods to the social and economic characteristics of our communities, environmental factors leave lasting biological impressions that can either support wellbeing or predispose us to disease.
What gives me hope is that these environmental factors are, to a significant extent, modifiable. The neighborhood disadvantages associated with unfavorable Alzheimer's biomarkers in the Wake Forest study 2 aren't inevitable—they reflect policy choices and resource allocation decisions that can be changed. The nearly one-quarter of global deaths attributable to environmental risks represent preventable tragedies.
As we move forward, Environmental Health Perspectives will continue to be a platform for the rigorous science needed to inform these changes. But beyond that, I hope our journal can become a space for conversation and collaboration—a place where researchers, policymakers, community advocates, and citizens can engage with the evidence needed to create healthier environments for all.
The children I watched playing soccer in the park, completely unaware of their environmental exposures, deserve nothing less. They remind me that behind every data point, every statistical association, and every biomarker signature lies a human life worthy of protection and the opportunity to flourish in a healthy environment. It is this conviction that will guide my leadership of Environmental Health Perspectives in the years to come.