Examining the Health Impacts of Older Housing Built Before 1939 in Phillips

By EMMA HESS, Community Journalist-in-Training

50.5% of the homes in Phillips were built before 1939 and that may be a problem for some residents in the Phillips Community. Specifically while older houses may be considered more structurally sound there can be a greater exposure to radon and lead poisoning. Other issues are related to insulation and a lack of air conditioning – and the intersection of these issues given the high levels of air pollution issues in Phillips.

Natalie Bullis, MPH, is the Operations Coordinator for Community Health for Pillsbury United Community. Bullis lived in Phillips for two years as part of her undergraduate degree, in an older home, and she works out of Waite House once a week.

“Phillips has a pretty extensive history of air pollution. And especially in the winter when there can be a lack of insulation, that doesn’t make it any better,” said Bullis.
According to Minnesota Compass, in the Phillips Community, 4062 or 50.5 percent of the homes were built before 1939. The total number of housing units in Phillips is 8046 (as of 2022).
Because of this, Community residents need to be aware of the possibility of radon in the soil, poor insulation in the winter, and the worsening air quality due to wildfires in Canada and other parts of the state as well as I-94.… Read the rest “Examining the Health Impacts of Older Housing Built Before 1939 in Phillips”