St. Louis, Missouri, Mar 14: A new report from Washington University in St. Louis provides updated data and recommendations aimed at addressing long-standing disparities in health, housing and environmental conditions across communities in the St. Louis region.
The report builds on a 2019 analysis and incorporates more recent data while expanding the scope of the earlier research. While the previous report focused primarily on childhood asthma, the updated study also examines asthma among adults. It also features new data visualizations that illustrate how environmental conditions and health outcomes intersect across neighborhoods.
“We wanted to ensure that the updated report incorporated the latest available data and reflected what we have learned from the community over the past six years,” said Elizabeth Hubertz, director of the Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic at the Washington University School of Law.
In addition to documenting disparities, the new report places greater emphasis on practical solutions.
“The earlier report focused largely on describing environmental and health challenges using public data and interviews with community members,” said Eric Conners, a postdoctoral fellow in the clinic and a contributing author of the report. “This updated report not only outlines those challenges but also offers evidence-based recommendations for addressing them.”
The report includes “Community Spotlights” that highlight local organizations working to improve environmental and health conditions in St. Louis. It also provides a resource guide for residents seeking assistance or ways to participate in community initiatives.
Among its recommendations, the report calls for improved collection and sharing of environmental health data. For example, it suggests updating Missouri’s environmental public health tracking database more frequently and testing soils and surfaces in public areas where children gather when contamination risks are present.
To address air quality and respiratory health concerns, the report recommends that schools adopt the AirNow Air Quality Flag Program and calls for expanding the number of air quality monitoring devices throughout the city.
Additional recommendations include addressing the causes of illegal dumping, educating homeowners about beneficiary deeds to help reduce housing vacancy, supporting community-owned grocery stores in underserved areas, and improving data collection on mold complaints in rental housing.
The report also highlights how natural disasters can intensify existing challenges in communities with older housing and limited resources. For example, neighborhoods may experience greater damage and slower recovery following severe weather events such as the May 2025 tornado in St. Louis.
“Natural disasters often amplify existing community challenges,” Conners said. “While we cannot prevent future storms or flooding, we can strengthen the resilience of communities that are most vulnerable.”
Even without extensive federal support, researchers note that cities and states can make meaningful progress. Residents can also play an important role by engaging with local officials, participating in neighborhood organizations, and reporting environmental concerns such as illegal dumping or housing hazards.
“A lot of the meaningful action happens at the local and state level,” Conners added.
