From where you live, work, and exercise, to what you breathe, eat, and drink, the environment is constantly shaping our health.

This interconnectedness is studied via a broad scientific area referred to as environmental health, which focuses on the relationship between human health and the environment.

Georgia is in the top 10 states with the worst urban air quality.

Atlanta is one of the most heat-vulnerable cities in the country.

Unfortunately, the effects are not equal. Low-income individuals are more likely to live in polluted areas with less green space. And chronic health conditions are more prevalent in those residing in environmentally-poor living conditions.

In 2019, about 1 out of every 8 Georgians (over 1.3M) were living in poverty.

Thus poverty, the environment, and health are linked. And those living in poverty can become trapped in a vicious cycle: For example: bad air quality is correlated with increased chronic illnesses; being out sick leads to poor performance in work or school; poor performance leads to an inability to get ahead; this leads to living in unhealthy environments; and the cycle continues.

In 2020 Science for Georgia's SciTober Fest focused on Breaking the Cycle of Environmental Health Disparities. Read the full article to learn more.