Creating a Healthier Home: An Environmental Medicine Approach to Everyday Wellness
Starting With the Foundations
Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about some of the less obvious ways our environment can influence our health. We’ve explored how wildfire smoke can affect the brain and cardiovascular system, how mold can quietly contribute to chronic symptoms, and how inflammation is influenced by far more than just the food we eat.
At some point during those conversations, most people arrive at the same question:
“Okay, I understand that my environment matters. Now what do I actually do about it?”
I love that question because it’s where environmental medicine becomes practical.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that environmental health requires perfection. Somewhere along the way, many people get the impression that if they really want to be healthy, they need to replace every pan, every cleaning product, every piece of furniture, every article of clothing, and every personal care item in their home.
Not only is that unrealistic, it’s unnecessary.
In my experience, environmental medicine works best when we approach it the same way we approach nutrition, exercise, or any other aspect of health: thoughtfully, consistently, and without becoming obsessive.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is reducing burden.
The body is remarkably resilient. Every day it is processing food, hormones, microbes, stress, pollutants, allergens, chemicals, and countless other inputs. We don’t need to eliminate every exposure. We simply want to reduce the unnecessary ones so the body can spend more energy doing the things it’s designed to do.
This is one of the reasons I often talk about environmental health through the lens of what I call the 80/20 approach.
If we focus on the highest-impact exposures, we can often achieve the majority of the benefit without completely disrupting our lives.
For most people, that means focusing on three foundational areas:
- The air you breathe
- The water you use
- The products you interact with every day
That’s where I would start. Every time.
Why Air and Water Matter More Than Most Supplements
As Naturopathic Doctors, we spend a lot of time discussing nutrition, hormones, gut health, and supplements. Those conversations are important.
But one thing I often remind patients is that the body interacts with air and water far more frequently than it interacts with supplements.
You can take the best supplement protocol in the world, but if you’re drinking contaminated water, breathing poor-quality air, or living in an environment that is constantly placing stress on the body, progress may be slower than expected.
This doesn’t mean environmental exposures are the cause of every health problem. Far from it. It simply means that health doesn’t happen in isolation.
The body responds to everything. One of the reasons environmental medicine has become such an important part of my practice is because I’ve repeatedly seen patients who were doing all the “right” things and still struggling. They were eating well, exercising, sleeping, taking supplements. Yet something still wasn’t improving.
Sometimes the missing piece turned out to be the environment surrounding them every day.
Water: The Environmental Exposure Nobody Thinks About
One of the things that surprised me most when I first began studying environmental medicine was how little most of us know about our water.
We research ingredients in supplements. We compare organic labels. We spend time choosing skincare products. Yet very few people have ever looked at the water quality report for their city.
Most people simply assume that if water comes out of the tap, it must be fine.
And while municipal water systems perform an incredibly important public health function, there is a significant difference between “safe enough to meet regulatory standards” and “optimal for long-term health.”
Water quality varies dramatically depending on where you live. Some communities struggle with elevated levels of PFAS compounds. Others have concerns about heavy metals, agricultural runoff, pharmaceutical residues, disinfection byproducts, chlorine, chloramine, or industrial contaminants.
Most people have no idea what is present in their local water supply because they’ve never been shown how to look.
The First Thing I Recommend: Check Your Water
One of my favorite resources is the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database.
You can visit EWG’s Tap Water Database and enter your zip code to review contaminants that have been detected in your local water system.
What I appreciate about this tool is that it helps move the conversation away from fear and toward information.
Rather than guessing, you can actually see what has been detected in your water supply and begin making decisions based on real data.
I’ve had patients discover surprisingly high levels of contaminants they weren’t expecting. I’ve also had patients discover that their water quality was better than they feared.
Either outcome is useful because it allows you to make informed decisions rather than relying on marketing claims or internet opinions.
Understanding Water Filters: More Expensive Doesn’t Always Mean Better
One of the mistakes I see people make is assuming that the best filtration system is simply the most expensive one. That’s not necessarily true.
The best filtration system is the one designed to remove the contaminants that are actually present in your water. Different filtration technologies remove different substances.
- Activated carbon filters excel at removing many chemicals, chlorine, VOCs, and improving taste and odor.
- Reverse osmosis systems are often more comprehensive and can remove a wider range of contaminants, including many PFAS compounds, heavy metals, and dissolved solids.
- Whole-house systems may be appropriate when concerns extend beyond drinking water and include bathing, laundry, or household water use.
The right solution depends on the problem you’re trying to solve. This is why I generally encourage patients to start by understanding their water first. Then choose a filtration strategy. Not the other way around.
Water Filtration Brands I Commonly Recommend
Patients ask me all the time:
“What water filter should I buy?”
The answer depends on their goals, but there are two companies I find myself mentioning frequently.
One is Clearly Filtered.
For people looking for countertop or pitcher-style filtration, I’ve found Clearly Filtered to be one of the most impressive options available. Their testing data demonstrates broad contaminant reduction across many categories, including heavy metals, PFAS compounds, pesticides, and other common water contaminants.
The second is Aquasana.
Aquasana offers a range of filtration options, including under-sink systems and whole-house filtration systems. For families looking to improve water quality throughout the home, they are often worth considering.
To be clear, I have no financial relationship with either company and receive no compensation for mentioning them.
They’re simply companies that I’ve found to be transparent about their testing and filtration capabilities.
The Overlooked Exposure: Shower Water
Most people think about water filtration exclusively through the lens of drinking water. But that’s only part of the story. Every day, many of us spend ten to twenty minutes standing in hot water and steam. When chlorine and other volatile compounds are heated, they become more easily inhaled.At the same time, our skin is being exposed to whatever is present in that water.
I often hear patients say:
“Can chemicals really get into the body through the skin?”
The answer is nuanced. The skin is an excellent barrier. It is not a sponge.
However, the skin is also a living organ that interacts with its environment continuously. Certain compounds can penetrate the skin, and inhalation exposure during hot showers may be equally important.
This is one reason some individuals notice improvements in skin irritation, dryness, scalp symptoms, or chlorine sensitivity after installing a shower filter.
Shower Filters: What Actually Matters
One thing I’ve learned is that not all shower filters are created equal. Many inexpensive filters focus primarily on water softening but do relatively little to reduce chlorine exposure.
When evaluating shower filtration systems, I typically look for companies that provide transparent performance data and specifically target chlorine reduction.
Two brands I often mention are Aquasana and Eskiin.
Again, I have no affiliation with either company.
What I appreciate is that both are designed with contaminant reduction in mind rather than simply improving water feel (but that’s a desired feature as well).
For many patients, especially those with sensitive skin, eczema, fragrance sensitivities, hair/scalp concerns, or environmental illness, shower filtration can be a relatively inexpensive place to start.
PFAS, Fragrance, Microplastics, and the Everyday Exposures We Rarely Think About
If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve probably encountered a post warning you about toxins. One tells you to throw away your cookware. Another says your clothing is poisoning you. A third insists your laundry detergent is destroying your hormones. At some point, it all starts to sound a little ridiculous. And honestly, I understand why people become skeptical.
Environmental health conversations are often presented in a way that feels alarmist, oversimplified, or completely disconnected from real life. What interests me is not fear-based marketing. What interests me is understanding what the science actually tells us.
Because while I don’t believe we should panic about every environmental exposure, I do believe there are certain exposures worth paying attention to. Not because they’re guaranteed to cause disease, or because everyone needs extensive testing, but because they represent unnecessary burdens on the body that we may be able to reduce with relatively simple changes.
The goal, as always, is not perfection. It’s awareness. And few topics illustrate that better than PFAS, fragrance chemicals, and microplastics.
PFAS: The “Forever Chemicals” Showing Up Everywhere
If there is one environmental topic that has exploded over the last decade, it’s PFAS.
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large family of synthetic chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in products designed to resist water, grease, stains, and heat.¹
These compounds have been used in:
- non-stick cookware
- water-resistant clothing
- food packaging
- stain-resistant furniture
- carpets
- firefighting foams
- cosmetics
- personal care products
- and countless industrial applications.
The reason PFAS have become such a major concern is that they don’t break down easily. In fact, many PFAS compounds can persist in the environment for decades. They also persist in the human body. Some PFAS compounds have half-lives measured in years, meaning it can take years for the body to eliminate even half of the exposure.² This persistence is why they are often called “forever chemicals.”
What the Research Shows
One of the things I find fascinating about PFAS research is just how widespread exposure has become.
According to biomonitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS can be detected in the blood of the vast majority of Americans tested.³
Let that sink in for a moment.
Most of us have measurable levels of these chemicals circulating in our bodies. That doesn’t necessarily mean those levels are causing health problems. But it does tell us that exposure is widespread. Researchers have linked PFAS exposure to a number of health concerns, including:
- altered immune function⁴
- changes in cholesterol levels⁵
- thyroid dysfunction⁶
- fertility and reproductive concerns⁷
- pregnancy complications⁸
- certain cancers⁹
- and reduced vaccine response in children.¹⁰
This is one reason PFAS have become a major public health focus. The concern isn’t necessarily any one exposure. It’s the cumulative effect of repeated exposure over a lifetime.
Why Colorado Residents Should Pay Attention
Many people assume PFAS contamination is primarily an issue near large industrial centers. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. PFAS contamination has been identified in drinking water systems across Colorado and throughout the United States.¹¹ Areas near military installations have received particular attention because firefighting foams historically contained high concentrations of PFAS compounds.
I also worry about communities around the Rocky Flats and Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Rescue.
This doesn’t mean your water is unsafe. It does mean that understanding your local water quality is worthwhile. Which brings us back to one of the simplest tools available:
Look up your water. The Environmental Working Group Tap Water Database and local municipal water reports can provide valuable information about what contaminants have been detected in your area.
Why I Talk About Fragrance So Much
If you’ve worked with me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me mention fragrance at least once. Maybe several times. There’s a reason for that. Part of it is professional and part of it is personal.
Over the years, I’ve become increasingly sensitive to synthetic fragrances. Certain perfumes, laundry detergents, candles, and air fresheners can trigger headaches for me almost immediately. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for marketing and a few years back, I bought into this bougie shampoo company that had you fill out a quiz and then they’d send you a custom formula. I had opted for fragrance free as a preference, but ended up getting a bottle strongly “fragranced.” I decided to try it anyway because I’d spent the money on it and, why not. After weeks of terribly night sweats (like soaking the sheets), it finally dawned on me – the shampoo! I stopped the shampoo and wouldn’t you know it… I stopped the nightsweats too. In hindsight it made sense because synthetic fragrances are very often endocrine disruptors, and this shampoo was wrecking havoc on my hormones.
That experience forced me to start paying attention to something I had previously ignored.
What exactly is fragrance?
The answer turns out to be surprisingly complicated. When you see the word “fragrance” on an ingredient label, it isn’t necessarily a single ingredient. It may represent dozens or even hundreds of individual chemicals.¹²
Manufacturers are often not required to disclose the specific ingredients because fragrance formulations are considered proprietary trade secrets. As a result, consumers frequently have no idea what they’re actually being exposed to.
Fragrance and Hormone Health
One reason fragrance has attracted attention from environmental health researchers is because some fragrance ingredients contain compounds known as phthalates.
Phthalates are commonly used to stabilize fragrance and help scents last longer.¹³ The concern is that certain phthalates have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting properties. In other words, they may interfere with normal hormone signaling.
Researchers have investigated links between phthalate exposure and:
- reproductive health concerns¹⁴
- fertility challenges¹⁵
- thyroid dysfunction¹⁶
- changes in testosterone levels¹⁷
- and developmental effects.¹⁸
Now, this doesn’t mean that using a scented lotion once is going to wreck your hormones. That’s not how toxicology works. The concern is cumulative exposure.
- A scented detergent.
- A scented body wash.
- A scented lotion.
- A scented deodorant.
- A scented candle.
- A scented air freshener.
Each individual exposure may be relatively small. Together, they begin adding up. This is why fragrance reduction is often one of the first practical changes I recommend to patients who are interested in lowering their environmental burden.
Now, it’s different if the scent comes from real (not the REAL) and high quality essential oils. Most people can tolerate those fragrances, especially if added to some kind of carrier. It’s the synthetic fragrances that tend to be the trouble makers.
While I love essential oils, I feel I would be remiss to not remark on the fact that they are the strongest form of herbal medicine and are not without their dangers. It is NEVER safe to ingest or apply and undiluted essential oil topically without the guidance of a qualified practitioner. This is not your doterra rep. This is a trained aromatherapist or naturopathic doctor or herbalist.
Microplastics: The Exposure We Can’t Completely Avoid
If PFAS are the environmental topic of the last decade, microplastics may be the environmental topic of the next one. The research in this area is moving incredibly quickly. And frankly, some of the findings are startling.
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic that result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials. They’re now found virtually everywhere researchers look.
Oceans. Rivers. Food. Air. Drinking water. Soil. Dust. And increasingly, the human body.
Over the last several years, researchers have identified microplastics in:
- human blood¹⁹
- placental tissue²⁰
- human lungs²¹
- breast milk²²
- testicular tissue²³
- and even atherosclerotic plaque removed from human arteries.²⁴
That last finding generated significant attention because researchers found that patients whose arterial plaque contained microplastics had higher rates of cardiovascular events during follow-up.²⁴
Importantly, this does not prove causation. But it certainly raises important questions.
What Might Microplastics Be Doing?
This is where we need to be careful. The research is still evolving. Scientists are actively working to understand what these findings mean. Current concerns center around several potential mechanisms:
- inflammation
- oxidative stress
- immune dysregulation
- chemical transport
- endocrine disruption
- altered cellular function
Laboratory and animal studies have demonstrated biological effects, but we’re still learning how those findings translate into human health outcomes.²⁵
What I tell patients is simple:
We know microplastics are entering the body. We know they are accumulating in human tissues. We know they appear capable of interacting with biological systems. And we know we should probably pay attention.
Practical Ways to Reduce Exposure
The good news is that reducing exposure does not require perfection. Some of the simplest strategies include:
- avoiding heating food in plastic containers
- choosing glass or stainless steel food storage when practical
- filtering drinking water
- reducing single-use plastics
- avoiding heavily scratched plastic containers
- choosing natural fibers when possible
Again, this is not about throwing everything away tomorrow. It’s about making better choices over time. The same way we approach nutrition. The same way we approach exercise. The same way we approach every other aspect of health. Progress, not perfection.
Clothing, Cookware, Cleaning Products, Sustainable Living, and My 80/20 Environmental Health Philosophy
By this point in the article, we’ve covered air quality, water quality, PFAS, fragrance chemicals, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics.
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you’re not alone. In fact, this is often the point where patients look at me and say:
“So…what am I supposed to do with all of this information?”
And honestly, that’s the most important question. Because knowledge without action isn’t particularly helpful. Environmental medicine should make us feel empowered, not anxious. The goal is not to create fear around modern life. The goal is to understand where our biggest opportunities exist and focus our efforts there.
This is where I think environmental health conversations often go wrong. People become so focused on identifying every possible exposure that they lose sight of the bigger picture.
The truth is that none of us can eliminate every environmental exposure. And we don’t need to. Instead, we can make thoughtful choices that gradually reduce burden over time.
The Clothing Conversation Nobody Is Having
One environmental topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention is clothing. Most people think about what they put in their bodies. Far fewer think about what they put on their bodies. And yet our skin is our largest organ.
Modern textiles can contain a surprising number of chemical treatments, including stain-resistant coatings, wrinkle-resistant treatments, antimicrobial agents, flame retardants, dyes, water-resistant finishes, and PFAS-containing compounds.²⁶⁻²⁸
Athletic wear is particularly interesting because it often combines prolonged skin contact, increased body temperature, sweat, and synthetic materials. Some studies have found elevated PFAS concentrations in certain water-resistant and performance textiles.²⁹
Does this mean your workout clothes are poisoning you? No. Well maybe. Let’s not go there. But it does mean that when patients are looking for areas to reduce environmental burden, textiles are worth considering. I often encourage people to think about the items that spend the most time against their skin.
- Underwear.
- Bras.
- Pajamas.
- Workout clothing.
- Socks.
- Bedding.
These are the places where choosing higher-quality natural fibers may make the most sense.
Clothing Brands I Commonly Recommend
Patients frequently ask me for specific recommendations.
While I have no financial relationship with any of the following companies, these are brands that have generally demonstrated greater transparency around materials and manufacturing than many conventional alternatives.
Some options worth exploring include:
- PACT
- MATE the Label
- Rawganique
- Boody
- Wool&
- WoolX
- Icebreaker
- Smartwool
- KENT
- Q for Quinn
- Cou Cou
- Quince
No company is perfect. And I certainly don’t expect patients to replace entire wardrobes. Instead, I encourage gradual upgrades. When something wears out, replace it with a better option.
That’s usually a much more sustainable approach than trying to overhaul everything at once. Because remember, clothing also doesn’t break down and can add to our ever increasing landfill problems. Americans discard more than 100 pounds of textiles per person each year, and the majority still ends up in landfills. Fortunately, many garments can be donated, repaired, resold, or recycled instead. For clothing in good condition, organizations like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Dress for Success, and The Gathering Place can often help keep items in circulation. Higher-end brands such as Patagonia and Levi’s also offer take-back and resale programs. For items that are truly worn out, textile recycling programs can often repurpose fabrics into insulation, industrial rags, or other secondary materials. While recycling is valuable, the most sustainable garment is often the one that continues to be worn. Extending the life of our clothing, even by a year or two, can have a meaningful impact on reducing waste and resource consumption.
Let’s Talk About Cookware
Few environmental health topics generate more debate than cookware.
If you’ve spent any time online, you’ve probably encountered dramatic headlines suggesting that every pan in your kitchen is dangerous. As usual, the truth is more nuanced.
The concern primarily revolves around certain non-stick coatings and their historical relationship to PFAS compounds.³⁰ Modern manufacturing has evolved considerably, and many products no longer use older PFAS formulations. At the same time, questions remain regarding replacement chemicals and long-term safety data.
My approach is fairly simple. If you have older non-stick cookware that is heavily scratched, chipped, or deteriorating, it’s probably worth replacing.
If you’re purchasing new cookware, I generally lean toward materials with long track records of safety and durability, such as stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, high-quality ceramic
These materials tend to last longer, tolerate higher cooking temperatures, and reduce concerns about coating degradation over time. Again, this is not an emergency. You do not need to throw out your kitchen tonight.
But as cookware naturally reaches the end of its lifespan, upgrading can be a reasonable step.
The Cleaning Products Hiding Under Your Sink
One of the most overlooked sources of chemical exposure is the collection of products sitting under the average kitchen sink.
Many conventional cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), synthetic fragrances, solvents, and other compounds that contribute to indoor air pollution.³¹
This is particularly important because we often use these products in enclosed indoor environments where ventilation may be limited. Research has shown that certain cleaning products can contribute to indoor air contaminants that may affect respiratory health and air quality.³² One of the simplest environmental health upgrades I recommend is reducing the number of cleaning products in the home.
Most households do not need twenty different specialty cleaners. In fact, many patients are surprised by how effective a small collection of basic products can be.
My Favorite Cleaning Philosophy
I’m not particularly interested in creating a Pinterest-worthy cleaning cabinet. I’m interested in effectiveness. For many households, a relatively simple collection of products can handle the majority of cleaning needs.
Examples include:
- unscented castile soap
- vinegar
- hydrogen peroxide
- baking soda
- fragrance-free dish soap
- microfiber cloths
- Essential oils (*it is extremely important to use these responsibly)
For those who prefer ready-made products, there are also many companies now producing lower-toxicity cleaning products with fewer fragrances and fewer unnecessary ingredients.
Again, the goal isn’t perfection. The goal is reducing unnecessary exposure while still maintaining a clean and healthy home.
What Sustainable Living Actually Means
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that environmental health and environmental stewardship often get discussed as if they are completely separate topics.
I don’t see them that way. The choices that support our health frequently support the environment as well. Buying fewer disposable products. Reducing plastic use. Choosing durable items that last longer. Filtering water instead of relying on bottled water. Using refillable containers. Reusing materials when possible. These choices can benefit both personal health and environmental sustainability.
At the same time, I think it’s important to approach sustainability realistically. Perfection is neither possible nor necessary. Small actions repeated consistently often matter far more than dramatic gestures performed once.
What We Do at Denver Naturopathic Clinic
One of the things I love about our team is that we genuinely try to practice many of the principles we discuss with patients.
If you’ve ever received a supplement shipment from us and wondered why it arrived in a slightly unusual box, there’s a reason for that.
We reuse shipping materials whenever possible. The box your supplements arrive in may have previously delivered office supplies, equipment, or inventory. And honestly, that’s intentional. We would rather reuse perfectly good materials than send them directly to a landfill.
Patients occasionally laugh when they receive a supplement order in a box that clearly had another life before arriving at their doorstep (like my son’s diaper or bum wipes).
I actually love those moments because they represent something bigger. Environmental health isn’t just about reducing what comes into our bodies. It’s also about thinking carefully about what we put back into the world around us.
We also make efforts to reduce unnecessary waste, recycle materials whenever practical, minimize excessive packaging, and make purchasing decisions that align with long-term stewardship whenever possible.
Are we perfect? Absolutely not. But we believe progress matters.
My 80/20 Environmental Health Philosophy
If you’ve made it this far, you may be wondering whether you need to completely transform your life in order to be healthy.
My answer is simple: No.
In fact, I’d strongly encourage you not to. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is becoming so overwhelmed by environmental health information that they end up doing nothing at all.
The pursuit of perfection becomes the obstacle to meaningful progress. This is why I come back to the 80/20 principle over and over again. Focus on the handful of changes that provide the greatest return or make the most sense to you.
If I were helping a family prioritize, I’d probably focus on:
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Fragrance reduction
- Food storage and plastics
- Cookware upgrades over time
Those five categories alone likely account for the majority of practical environmental health opportunities available to most households.
After that, additional changes can be layered in gradually as desired. The goal isn’t to create a perfectly optimized environment. The goal is to create a healthier one.
Final Thoughts
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through my own experiences with mold exposure, fragrance sensitivity, environmental medicine training, and nearly a decade of clinical practice is that our environment matters.
Not because every symptom is caused by environmental exposures. Not because everyone needs extensive testing. And certainly not because I want people to live in fear of their homes.
The opposite, actually. I want people to feel empowered. I want people to understand that they have meaningful opportunities to improve the environments they live in every day.
Sometimes that means improving indoor air quality. Sometimes it means filtering water. Sometimes it means addressing mold. Sometimes it means replacing a laundry detergent that’s been triggering headaches for years.
Often, it’s a collection of small decisions that gradually add up. Because health is rarely built through one dramatic intervention. More often, it’s built through hundreds of small choices that support the body’s ability to function well over time.
Environmental medicine isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating conditions that allow health to thrive. And that’s something worth investing in.
References
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³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals. 2024.
⁴ DeWitt JC, Blossom SJ, Schaider LA. Exposure to PFAS and immune function. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2019.
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