The Built Environment as a Social Determinant of Health

Abstract

The built environment encompasses buildings we live in; the distribution systems that provide us with water and electricity; and the roads, bridges, and transportation systems we use to get from place to place. It provides safety, health, and well-being and meaning to its dwellers, as a place to work, live, learn, play, and thrive. Poor-quality housing affects dwellers' health through toxins such as radon and lead, mold, cold indoor temperatures, and overcrowding. Physicians' practices should investigate their patients' diagnoses such as stress, depression, asthma, adverse childhood experiences, and anxiety, as potentially housing-related and make ameliorating recommendations or referrals.

Keywords: Built environment; Health disparities; Housing quality; Racism.