Quality of life, the environment and how one affects the other

A collaboration between groups across Tennessee assessed over 60 factors that affect quality of life in the state, including factors that involve the environment, like water quality and access to outdoor spaces.Counties in Northeast Tennessee mostly have more access to spaces for physical activity compared to the state as a whole, with some exceptions. But counties in the region also, comparatively, have a higher amount of water quality violations."Natural environments play a very important role in residents' both physical and mental wellbeing," said Qian Huang, a research assistant professor at ETSU'S Center for Rural Health and Research and College of Public Health.Huang helped develop the Tennessee Livability Dashboard, an initiative by the Tennessee Livability Collaborative, which displays factors affecting quality of life in the state. The collaborative is a 26-member group made up of state agencies, departments and academic institutions like the ETSU Center for Rural Health and Research."When we talk about livability, we are really talking about the interaction between people and the places they live, work and play."Huang said access to green spaces like forests, rivers and parks — and for those spaces to be clean and healthy — gives people the opportunity to engage in healthier lifestyles that improve quality of life."In many Tennessee communities, the natural environment is one of the greatest assets. It shapes how people move, socialize and stay active" she said.Spaces for physical activityThe livability dashboard notes nine specific health-related issues for Tennessee counties, like domestic violence rates, violent crime, substance use and infant mortality. Among those includes access to spaces for physical activity."This indicator helps communities understand whether residents have the basic environmental supports needed to stay active," said Huang. "It also highlights disparities between areas with abundant recreational opportunities and those where infrastructure may be limited."Spaces for physical activity can include parks, trails, recreation centers and even sidewalks.The majority of the population in most Northeast Tennessee counties have access to space for physical activity, according to the map, except for Hawkins County.About 36% of Hawkins County residents have access to places for physical activity, lower than the rest of Northeast Tennessee and the state as a whole. The amount of people in Hawkins with that access has decreased since 2018.A greater percentage of residents in Washington, Carter, Unicoi and Johnson counties have access to these kinds of spaces compared to the state as a whole. According to the map, 100% of Unicoi and Johnson County residents have access to spaces for physical activity as of 2023.Regular physical activity has proven immediate and long-term health benefits, including healthier aging and reduced risk for disease. Even 10 minutes of daily exercise can make a difference for a person's health, according to the Centers for Disease Control.Moving your body more often can also improve mental acuity and health. The ability to engage with the outdoors while you do so can have an added bonus.Biophilia is the idea that humans have an innate connection to nature. Some studies show that the human body can have a positive response when exposed to natural spaces.Movements like "ParkRX" encourage people to spend time outdoors to support their physical and mental health.But that's easier said than done for some people, which Huang said can affect how much people can safely engage in regular physical activity."Improving access to physical activity spaces makes it easier for residents to be active outdoors, and is one of the most cost-effective ways to support community health and quality of life," said Huang.Water qualityWater violations are included as a factor in the livability dashboard, assessing water quality as an essential environmental resource."Water violations highlight compliance issues within local systems that may pose risks to public health and signal where infrastructure improvements may be needed," said Huang.Those violations come from individuals, businesses or other entities that fail to comply with regulations set by environmental and public health authorities.Most counties in the region had around 300 water violations in 2023, except for Washington and Unicoi counties, which had 51 and 38 reported water violations, respectively.The range for the amount of violations across the state is from three to 323 violations. Carter County had the most in the state with 323 violations in 2023, according to the map.Tennessee Livability Dashboard/East Tennessee State University Center for Rural Health and Research"By including these data, the dashboard helps communities ensure that environmental standards are met and that residents have access to safe and sustainable water resources," Huang said.The dashboard also includes fluoride access in its environmental livability indicators. Fluoride in public drinking water is an evidence-based public health measure to prevent tooth decay.The environment and public healthNational and international organizations have studied how the environment influences public health, and how our health can be affected by changes in environment.About 24% of deaths across the globe can be attributed to the environment, according to the World Health Organization.Pollution, sanitation issues, chemical safety and radiation are some examples of global environmental issues that can affect health. WHO says a quarter of diseases across the world can be prevented by a healthy environment.Environmental factors are a fraction of 60 factors included in Tennessee's Livability Dashboard, but Huang noted a community's environment "shapes nearly every part of daily life," even if it's not immediately noticeable, through things like the air we breathe, the commutes we take, the spaces we have access to and how safe they are."A healthy environment sets communities up for better health outcomes, making healthy choices the easy or default choices," said Huang.