The influence of early-life residential exposure to different vegetation types and paved surfaces on early childhood development: A population-based birth cohort study

"In small places, close to home": Urban environmental impacts on child rights across four global cities

Urban environments influence child behaviours, exposures and experiences and may affect health, development, achievement and realization of fundamental human rights. We examined the status of eleven UN Convention on the Rights of the Child articles, in a multi-case study across four global cities. Within all study cities, children experienced unequal exposure to urban environmental risks and amenities. Many violations of child rights are related to car-based transportation systems and further challenged by pressures on urban systems from rapid population increases in the context of climate change. A child rights framework provides principles for a collective, multi-sectoral re-imagination of urban environments that support the human rights of all citizens.

Reduction in the use of green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on mental health

Our study examined the use of green spaces before and during the pandemic in a large cohort of Italian twins and evaluated its impact on measures of mental health (depressive, anxiety, stress symptoms). Twins were analysed as individuals and as pairs. A twin design approach was applied to minimize confounding by genetic and shared environmental factors. Questionnaires from 2,473 twins enrolled in the Italian Twin Registry were screened. Reduced green space use was associated with significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety and distress. Being a woman, residing in urban areas, and having a high perceived risk of the outbreak resulted in a higher likelihood to modify green space use, with a negative impact on mental health.

The association between greenery type and gut microbiome in schizophrenia: did all greenspaces play the equivalent role?

In recent years, attention has been focused on the benefit of greenspace on mental health, and it is suggested this link may vary with the type of greenspace. More and more studies have emphasized the influence of the gut microbiome on schizophrenia (SCZ). However, the effects of greenspaces on the gut microbiota in SCZ and the effect of different types of greenspaces on the gut microbiota remain unclear. We aim to examine if there were variations in the effects of various greenspace types on the gut microbiome in SCZ. Besides, we sink to explore important taxonomic compositions associated with different greenspace types. We recruited 243 objects with schizophrenia from Anhui Mental Health Center and collected fecal samples for 16Sr RNA gene sequencing. Three types of greenery coverage were calculated with different circular buffers (800, 1500, and 3000 m) corresponding to individual addresses. The association between greenspace and microbiome composition was analyzed with permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). We conducted the linear regression to capture specific gut microbiome taxa associated with greenery coverage. Tree coverage was consistently associated with microbial composition in both 1500 m (R2 = 0.007, P = 0.030) and 3000 m (R2 = 0.007, P = 0.039). In contrast, there was no association with grass cover in any of the buffer zones. In the regression analysis, higher tree coverage was significantly correlated with the relative abundance of several taxa. Among them, tree coverage was positively associated with increased Bifidobacterium longum (β = 1.069, P = 0.004), which was the dominant composition in the gut microbiota. The relationship between greenspace and gut microbiome in SCZ differed by the type of greenspace. Besides, "tree coverage" may present a dominant effect on the important taxonomic composition. Our findings might provide instructive evidence for the design of urban greenspace to optimize health and well-being in SCZ as well as the whole people.

Rural-urban differentials in early childhood education and child development: Evidence from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Ghana

Children's early development is a key component that affects their wellbeing and health as they age. In recent times, scholars' interest in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Child Development (ECD) has grown exponentially. However, rural-urban differentials in early childhood development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and particularly in Ghana are unknown. This study examined the rural-urban differentials in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Child Development (ECD) in Ghana. We used cross-sectional data from 2017/2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) by the Ghana Statistical Service. We restricted the data to children aged 3 and 4 years. A sample size of 3683 children was used in this study. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Child Development (ECD) in rural and urban Ghana. Both ECE and ECD scores were higher in the urban areas than in the rural areas. The regression shows the rural-urban disparity in ECD by ECE. The Preschool Program (ECE) has a good impact on children's early development in Ghana. However, the Relative Risk Ratio (RRR) in rural areas was higher than in urban areas. Beyond this, other factors such as age of child, ecological zone, maternal education and wealth index were associated with ECD. Our findings show a significant disparity in Early Childhood Education and Childhood Development in rural and urban areas This study therefore recommends that more resources be channeled in rural areas to help improve ECE and ECD while policies should be tailored to Early Childhood Education.

Association of residential greenness with incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Residential greenness has been linked to respiratory mortality, but its long-term effect on incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has rarely been investigated.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was based on over 350 000 participants aged 38-70 of the UK Biobank, followed from 2006 to 2010 baseline to 2021. COPD cases were ascertained through linkages to health administrative datasets. Residential greenness was measured by satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within the 500- and 1 000-m buffer. Effects of greenness on COPD incidence were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. We also explored mediation by physical activity, particular matter <2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x). Restricted cubic spline models were fit to assess exposure-response relationships.

RESULTS

A total of 363 212 individuals (mean [SD] age, 56.2 [8.1] years; 193 181 [53.2 %] women] were included in the analyses. 8 261 COPD cases occurred over 4 287 926 person-years of follow-up. We observed 8% lower COPD risk per IQR increase in NDVI in the 500-m buffer (95% CI: 0.89, 0.95). The association between greenness in the 500-m buffer and COPD were partially mediated by physical activity (1.0%, 95% CI: 0.2%, 1.8%), PM_2.5 (21.0%, 95% CI: 3.7%, 38.4%) and NO_x (17.0%, 95% CI: 2.8%, 31.2%). Similar results were observed for NDVI within 1 000-m buffer.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term exposure to residential greenness was associated with lower risk of COPD incidence among UK adults. Our findings provide a rationale for greening policies as part of respiratory health promotion efforts.

Evidence-based guidelines for greener, healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods: Introducing the 3-30-300 rule

The important contributions of urban trees and green spaces to for example, climate moderation and public health have been recognized. This paper discusses guidelines and norms that promote the benefits of viewing green, living amongst green, and having easy access to green spaces for recreational use. Having trees and other vegetation in sight from one's home, place of work, or school has important mental health and performance benefits. Local tree canopy cover is positively associated with cooling and other aspects of climate moderation. With public green spaces in proximity to one's home stimulates regular use of these areas and results in positive impacts on mental, physical, and social health. After analyzing existing guidelines and rules for urban green space planning and provision, a new, comprehensive guideline is presented, known as the '3-30-300 rule' for urban forestry. This guideline aims to provide equitable access to trees and green spaces and their benefits by setting the thresholds of having at least 3 well-established trees in view from every home, school, and place of work, no less than a 30% tree canopy in every neighbourhood; and no more than 300 m to the nearest public green space from every residence. Current implementation of this new guideline is discussed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using this evidence-based but also clear and simple rules.