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Hu K, Wang S, Fei F, Song J, Chen F, Zhao Q, Shen Y, Fu J, Zhang Y, Cheng J, Zhong J, Yang X, Wu J. Modifying temperature-related cardiovascular mortality through green-blue space exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 20:100408. [PMID: 38560758 PMCID: PMC10979139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Green-blue spaces (GBS) are pivotal in mitigating thermal discomfort. However, their management lacks guidelines rooted in epidemiological evidence for specific planning and design. Here we show how various GBS types modify the link between non-optimal temperatures and cardiovascular mortality across different thermal extremes. We merged fine-scale population density and GBS data to create novel GBS exposure index. A case time series approach was employed to analyse temperature-cardiovascular mortality association and the effect modifications of type-specific GBSs across 1085 subdistricts in south-eastern China. Our findings indicate that both green and blue spaces may significantly reduce high-temperature-related cardiovascular mortality risks (e.g., for low (5%) vs. high (95%) level of overall green spaces at 99th vs. minimum mortality temperature (MMT), Ratio of relative risk (RRR) = 1.14 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.21); for overall blue spaces, RRR = 1.20 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.29)), while specific blue space types offer protection against cold temperatures (e.g., for the rivers at 1st vs MMT, RRR = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.28)). Notably, forests, parks, nature reserves, street greenery, and lakes are linked with lower heat-related cardiovascular mortality, whereas rivers and coasts mitigate cold-related cardiovascular mortality. Blue spaces provide greater benefits than green spaces. The severity of temperature extremes further amplifies GBS's protective effects. This study enhances our understanding of how type-specific GBS influences health risks associated with non-optimal temperatures, offering valuable insights for integrating GBS into climate adaptation strategies for maximal health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejia Hu
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Preventive Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shiyi Wang
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Fangrong Fei
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Jinglu Song
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Zhejiang Institute of Meteorological Sciences, Hangzhou, 310008, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yujie Shen
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jingqiao Fu
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316021, China
| | - Yunquan Zhang
- School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
| | - Jian Cheng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jieming Zhong
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Xuchao Yang
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316021, China
| | - Jiayu Wu
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
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Li Y, Schütte W, Dekeukeleire M, Janssen C, Boon N, Asselman J, Lebeer S, Spacova I, De Rijcke M. The immunostimulatory activity of sea spray aerosols: bacteria and endotoxins activate TLR4, TLR2/6, NF-κB and IRF in human cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:171969. [PMID: 38547998 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Frequent exposure to sea spray aerosols (SSA) containing marine microorganisms and bioactive compounds may influence human health. However, little is known about potential immunostimulation by SSA exposure. This study focuses on the effects of marine bacteria and endotoxins in SSA on several receptors and transcription factors known to play a key role in the human innate immune system. SSA samples were collected in the field (Ostend, Belgium) or generated in the lab using a marine aerosol reference tank (MART). Samples were characterized by their sodium contents, total bacterial counts, and endotoxin concentrations. Human reporter cells were exposed to SSA to investigate the activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in HEK-Blue hTLR4 cells and TLR2/6 in HEK-Blue hTLR2/6 cells, as well as the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factors (IRF) in THP1-Dual monocytes. These responses were then correlated to the total bacterial counts and endotoxin concentrations to explore dose-effect relationships. Field SSA contained from 3.0 × 103 to 6.0 × 105 bacteria/m3 air (averaging 2.0 ± 1.9 × 105 bacteria/m3 air) and an endotoxin concentration ranging from 7 to 1217 EU/m3 air (averaging 389 ± 434 EU/m3 air). In contrast, MART SSA exhibited elevated levels of total bacterial count (from 2.0 × 105 to 2.4 × 106, averaging 7.3 ± 5.5 × 105 cells/m3 air) and endotoxin concentration from 536 to 2191 (averaging 1310 ± 513 EU/m3 air). SSA samples differentially activated TLR4, TLR2/6, NF-κB and IRF. These immune responses correlated dose-dependently with the total bacterial counts, endotoxin levels, or both. This study sheds light on the immunostimulatory potential of SSA and its underlying mechanisms, highlighting the need for further research to deepen our understanding of the health implications of SSA exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunmeng Li
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium; Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Wyona Schütte
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Max Dekeukeleire
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Colin Janssen
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Nico Boon
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jana Asselman
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Sarah Lebeer
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irina Spacova
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten De Rijcke
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium.
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Murray ET, Keating A, Cameron C, Benchekroun R, Whewall S, Booker C, Jivraj S. Residence in coastal communities in adolescence and health in young adulthood: An 11-year follow-up of English UKHLS youth questionnaire respondents. Health Place 2024; 87:103239. [PMID: 38631217 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
We used the UK Household Longitudinal Study to examine whether community type (inland or coastal) in adolescence (10-15 years) was associated with five adult health outcomes assessed over 11 waves of follow-up (2009-22). When the analyses were stratified on area deprivation, four of the five health outcomes - self-rated, long-standing illness, psychological distress and mental functioning - showed worse health in increasingly more deprived communities, and to a greater extent in the most deprived communities that are coastal. For all but self-rated health, associations were robust to additional adjustment for adolescent gender, ethnicity, household income, tenure, and life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily T Murray
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, WC1B 7HB, UK; Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing, University of Essex, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
| | - Avril Keating
- Institute of Education, University College London; , London, WC1B 7HB, UK
| | - Claire Cameron
- Social Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1B 7HB, UK
| | - Rachel Benchekroun
- Social Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1B 7HB, UK
| | - Sam Whewall
- Institute of Education, University College London; , London, WC1B 7HB, UK
| | - Cara Booker
- Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Essex; , Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Stephen Jivraj
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, WC1B 7HB, UK
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Hooyberg A, Roose H, Lonneville B, De Henauw S, Michels N, Everaert G. Survey data linking coastal visit behaviours to socio-demographic and health profiles. Sci Data 2024; 11:315. [PMID: 38538625 PMCID: PMC10973510 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03161-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Coastal destinations are highly popular for leisure, yet the effects of spending time at the coast on mental and physical health have remained underexplored. To accelerate the research about the effects of the coast on health, we compiled a dataset from a survey on a sample (N = 1939) of the adult Flemish population about their visits to the Belgian coast. The survey queried the number of days spent at the coast in the previous year or before and the following characteristics of their visits: how often they performed specific activities, which of the 14 municipal seaside resorts they visited, who they were with, what they mentally and physically experienced, and what reasons they had for not visiting the coast more often. The respondents' geo-demographic (including residential proximity to the coast), socio-economic, and health profile was also collected. We anticipate that investigations on the data will increase our understanding about the social structuring of coastal visits and give context to the effects of the coast on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henk Roose
- Department of Sociology, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Michels
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University (UGent), Ghent, Belgium
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Liang JH, Yang RY, Liu ML, Pu YQ, Bao WW, Zhao Y, Hu LX, Zhang YS, Huang S, Jiang N, Pu XY, Huang SY, Dong GH, Chen YJ. Urban green, blue spaces and their joint effect are associated with lower risk of emotional and behavior problem in children and adolescents, a large population-based study in Guangzhou, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117475. [PMID: 37914012 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Extensive research has been conducted on the impact of urban Green and blue spaces (GBS) on mental health. However, there is a dearth of studies examining the potential influence of GBS on Emotion and behavior problems (EBP) in youth populations. This study seeks to address this research gap by examining the association between GBS exposure and EBP in youths, utilizing a large population-based survey. Exposure indicators were derived for each participant, taking into account the 1-m resolution land coverage percentage measurements at their residential and school locations, with buffer sizes of 500m and 800m. The study employed the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a measurement to EBP. To investigate this relationship, a Poisson linear mixed-effects model with comprehensive adjustment was utilized. Stratified analyses were conducted, taking into account demographic variables, while sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the reliability of the findings. The primary analysis encompassed a sample of 172,490 individuals, with an average age of 10.2 (standard deviation = 2.99), of whom 55.8% were male. Among young individuals residing within a 500-m radius of residential green spaces (GS), those in the second and third tertiles experienced a 5.0% and 7.6% decrease in the risk of developing total difficulties respectively, compared to those in the first tertile. Exposure to blue spaces (BS) around the residence yielded comparable results, with an AOR of 0.896 (95% CI: 0.866, 0.928) for the second tertile and an AOR of 0.991 (95% CI: 0.879, 0.943) for the third tertile, compared to the first tertile. The decrease in EBPs may also be linked to the joint effect of GS and BS. Young individuals were exposed to GS or BS, as well as the higher level of GS in conjunction with comparable BS, exhibited an inverse correlation with self-reported EBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Hong Liang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ru-Yu Yang
- Northwest Land and Resource Research Center, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, PR China
| | - Mei-Ling Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ying-Qi Pu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Wen-Wen Bao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Li-Xin Hu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Yu-Shan Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shan Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xue-Ya Pu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shao-Yi Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Ya-Jun Chen
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China.
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6
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Elliott LR, Pasanen T, White MP, Wheeler BW, Grellier J, Cirach M, Bratman GN, van den Bosch M, Roiko A, Ojala A, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Fleming LE. Nature contact and general health: Testing multiple serial mediation pathways with data from adults in 18 countries. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108077. [PMID: 37413929 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The role of neighbourhood nature in promoting good health is increasingly recognised in policy and practice, but consistent evidence for the underlying mechanisms is lacking. Heterogeneity in exposure methods, outcome measures, and population characteristics, little exploration of recreational use or the role of different types of green or blue space, and multiple separate mediation models in previous studies have limited our ability to synthesise findings and draw clear conclusions. We examined multiple pathways linking different types of neighbourhood nature with general health using a harmonised international sample of adults. Using cross-sectional survey data from 18 countries (n = 15,917), we developed a multigroup path model to test theorised pathways, controlling for sociodemographic variables. We tested the possibility that neighbourhood nature (e.g. greenspace, inland bluespace, and coastal bluespace) would be associated with general health through lower air pollution exposure, greater physical activity attainment, more social contact, and higher subjective well-being. However, our central prediction was that associations between different types of neighbourhood nature and general health would largely be serially mediated by recent visit frequency to corresponding environment types, and, subsequently, physical activity, social contact, and subjective well-being associated with these frequencies. Several subsidiary analyses assessed the robustness of the results to alternative model specifications as well as effect modification by sociodemographics. Consistent with this prediction, there was statistical support for eight of nine potential serial mediation pathways via visit frequency which held for a range of alternative model specifications. Effect modification by financial strain, sex, age, and urbanicity altered some associations but did not necessarily support the idea that nature reduced health inequalities. The results demonstrate that across countries, theorised nature-health linkages operate primarily through recreational contact with natural environments. This provides arguments for greater efforts to support use of local green/blue spaces for health promotion and disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
| | - Tytti Pasanen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mathew P White
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom; Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedict W Wheeler
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - James Grellier
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom; Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marta Cirach
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, USA
| | - Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
| | - Anne Roiko
- School of Pharmacy & Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Ann Ojala
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lora E Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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Severin MI, Akpetou LK, Annasawmy P, Asuquo FE, Beckman F, Benomar M, Jaya-Ram A, Malouli M, Mees J, Monteiro I, Ndwiga J, Neves Silva P, Nubi OA, Sim YK, Sohou Z, Shau-Hwai AT, Woo SP, Zizah S, Buysse A, Raes F, Krug LA, Seeyave S, Everaert G, Mahu E, Catarino AI. Impact of the citizen science project COLLECT on ocean literacy and well-being within a north/west African and south-east Asian context. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1130596. [PMID: 37388649 PMCID: PMC10303996 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1130596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic pollution is both a societal and environmental problem and citizen science has shown to be a useful tool to engage both the public and professionals in addressing it. However, knowledge on the educational and behavioral impacts of citizen science projects focusing on marine litter remains limited. Our preregistered study investigates the impact of the citizen science project Citizen Observation of Local Litter in coastal ECosysTems (COLLECT) on the participants' ocean literacy, pro-environmental intentions and attitudes, well-being, and nature connectedness, using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 410 secondary school students from seven countries, in Africa (Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria) and Asia (Malaysia) were trained to sample plastics on sandy beaches and to analyze their collection in the classroom. Non-parametric statistical tests (n = 239 matched participants) demonstrate that the COLLECT project positively impacted ocean literacy (i.e., awareness and knowledge of marine litter, self-reported litter-reducing behaviors, attitudes towards beach litter removal). The COLLECT project also led to higher pro-environmental behavioral intentions for students in Benin and Ghana (implying a positive spillover effect) and higher well-being and nature connectedness for students in Benin. Results are interpreted in consideration of a high baseline in awareness and attitudes towards marine litter, a low internal consistency of pro-environmental attitudes, the cultural context of the participating countries, and the unique settings of the project's implementation. Our study highlights the benefits and challenges of understanding how citizen science impacts the perceptions and behaviors towards marine litter in youth from the respective regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine I. Severin
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Oostende, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lazare Kouame Akpetou
- Centre Universitaire de Recherche et d’Application en Télédétection (CURAT), Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | | | - Francis Emile Asuquo
- Marine Atmosphere and Coastal Ocean Research Network (MACORN), UNICAL, Faculty of Oceanography, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Fiona Beckman
- Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Mostapha Benomar
- Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Annette Jaya-Ram
- Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Mohammed Malouli
- Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Jan Mees
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Oostende, Belgium
- Marine Biology Research Group, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ivanice Monteiro
- Ocean Science Centre Mindelo, Instituto do Mar (IMar), Mindelo, Cape Verde
| | - Joey Ndwiga
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Oostende, Belgium
| | | | | | - Yee Kwang Sim
- Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Zacharie Sohou
- Institut de Recherches Halieutiques et Océanologiques du Benin (IRHOB), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Aileen Tan Shau-Hwai
- Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Sau Pinn Woo
- Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Soukaina Zizah
- Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ann Buysse
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Filip Raes
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lilian A. Krug
- Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), Plymouth, United Kingdom
- Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Sophie Seeyave
- Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO), Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | | | - Edem Mahu
- Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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8
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Kasdagli MI, Katsouyanni K, de Hoogh K, Zafeiratou S, Dimakopoulou K, Samoli E. Associations between exposure to blue spaces and natural and cause-specific mortality in Greece: An ecological study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 249:114137. [PMID: 36806046 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence suggests that exposure to natural environments, such as green space, may have a beneficial role in health. However, there is limited evidence regarding the effects of exposure to blue spaces and mortality. We investigated the association of exposure to blue spaces with natural and cause-specific mortality in Greece using an ecological study design METHODS: Mortality and socioeconomic data were obtained from 1,035 municipal units (MUs) from the 2011 census data. To define exposure to "blue" we used a rate of the land cover categories related to blue space from the COoRdination and INformation on the Environmental (CORINE) 2012 map per 10,000 persons in the municipal unit. We further assessed the exposure to blue space in the MUs that are located in the coastline of Greece using the distance to the coast as a proxy for proximity to blue space. the Annual PM2.5, NO2, BC and O3 concentrations for 2010 were predicted by land use regression models while the normalized difference vegetation index was used to assess greenness. We applied single and two exposure Poisson regression models accounting for spatial autocorrelation and adjusting for unemployment and lung cancer mortality rates, percentages of the population aged 25-64 with upper secondary or tertiary education attainment and of those born in Greece, and urbanicity. The analysis was conducted for the whole country and separately by varying geographical definitions. RESULTS An interquartile range (IQR) increase of blue space per 10,000 persons was associated with decreased risk in natural mortality (Relative Risk (RR): 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98, 0.99), as well as in mortality due to cardiovascular causes, respiratory causes and diseases of the nervous system 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97, 0.99); 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95, 0.99); 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88, 1.00) respectively). We estimated protective associations for ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality (RR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.00 per IQR); COPD mortality (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.00 per IQR) and mortality from cerebrovascular disease (RR = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.96, 0.99 per IQR). We estimated protective associations for the distance from the coast and mortality from the diseases of the nervous system (RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.92, ≤1 km from the coast versus >1 km). Our results were stronger for inhabitants of the islands, the coastline and in the rural areas of Greece while the estimates were robust to co-exposure adjustment. CONCLUSIONS We estimated statistically significant protective effects of exposure to blue space on mortality from natural, cardiovascular and respiratory causes, diseases of the nervous system, cerebrovascular and ischemic heart disease for in Greece with higher estimates in the coastline and the islands. Further research is needed to elaborate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Iosifina Kasdagli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Environmental Research Group, MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College, United Kingdom
| | - Kees de Hoogh
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sofia Zafeiratou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Dimakopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Sea swimming and snorkeling in tropical coastal blue spaces and mental well-being: Findings from Indonesian island communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM 2023; 41:100584. [PMID: 37521265 PMCID: PMC9650564 DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2022.100584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has considerable mental health impacts. Immersive nature-based interventions, such as swimming or snorkeling, may help mitigate the global mental health crisis caused by the pandemic. To investigate this, we collected cross-sectional data from residents of coastal villages (n = 308) in Kepulauan Selayar, Indonesia. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used with mental well-being as the outcome variable, operationalized as the Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores from the SF-12 (12-item Short Form Health Survey). After adjusting for covariates, the activity of sea swimming or snorkeling was found to be significantly associated with better mental well-being (η2 = 0.036; p < 0.01). Predictive margins analysis revealed that those who engaged in sea swimming or snorkeling for one to three days a week gained a 2.7 increase in their MCS scores, compared to those who did not. A non-linear dose-response relationship was detected: for those swimming or snorkeling more than three days per week, there was only an increase of 1.7 MCS score compared to the 0-day. Overall this study contributes to the expanding of evidence base, showing that interactions with blue spaces can be beneficial for mental health, especially in a potentially stressful time such as the current pandemic. Management implications The positive association between the activity of swimming or snorkeling in open seas and the mental well-being of rural coastal communities in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that access to coastal blue spaces is important in a time of uncertainties and high stress. Ensuring that local communities have continuous access to these spaces is the key challenge for all relevant stakeholders, particularly in light of the growing privatization of the local coastal environment for the sake of tourism. However, considering the importance that these blue spaces hold for the mental well-being of local communities, intensive dialogue amongst these stakeholders must be pursued to ensure that the development of the area does not jeopardize the collective well-being of the people already living there.
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10
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Wang K, Sun Z, Cai M, Liu L, Wu H, Peng Z. Impacts of Urban Blue-Green Space on Residents' Health: A Bibliometric Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16192. [PMID: 36498264 PMCID: PMC9737146 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban blue-green space (UBGS), as an important component of the urban environment, is found to closely relate to human health. An extensive understanding of the effects of UBGS on human health is necessary for urban planning and intervention schemes towards healthy city development. However, a comprehensive review and discussion of relevant studies using bibliometric methods is still lacking. This paper adopted the bibliometric method and knowledge graph visualization technology to analyze the research on the impact of UBGS on residents' health, including the number of published papers, international influence, and network characteristics of keyword hotspots. The key findings include: (1) The number of articles published between 2001 and 2021 shows an increasing trend. Among the articles collected from WoS and CNKI, 38.74% and 32.65% of the articles focus on physical health, 38.32% and 30.61% on mental health, and 17.06% and 30.61% on public health, respectively. (2) From the analysis of international partnerships, countries with high levels of economic development and urbanization have closer cooperation than other countries. (3) UBGS has proven positive effects on residents' physical, mental, and public health. However, the mediating effects of UBGS on health and the differences in the health effects of UBGS on different ages and social classes are less studied. Therefore, this study proposes several future research directions. First, the mediating effect of UBGS on health impacts should be further examined. Furthermore, the interactive effects of residents' behaviors and the UBGS environment should be emphasized. Moreover, multidisciplinary integration should be strengthened. The coupling mechanism between human behavior and the environment should also be studied in depth with the help of social perception big data, wearable devices, and human-computer interactive simulation. Finally, this study calls for developing health risk monitoring and early warning systems, and integrating health impact assessment into urban planning, so as to improve residents' health and urban sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhihao Sun
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Wuhan Natural Resources Conservation and Utilization Center, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Meng Cai
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lingbo Liu
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Center for Digital City Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Hao Wu
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Center for Digital City Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhenghong Peng
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Center for Digital City Research, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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11
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Ke GN, Utama IKAP, Wagner T, Sweetman AK, Arshad A, Nath TK, Neoh JY, Muchamad LS, Suroso DSA. Influence of mangrove forests on subjective and psychological wellbeing of coastal communities: Case studies in Malaysia and Indonesia. Front Public Health 2022; 10:898276. [PMID: 36438217 PMCID: PMC9686422 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.898276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mangrove forests possess multiple functions for the environment and society through their valuable ecosystem services. Along with this, the mangrove forests have large and diverse social values, in combination contributing to the health and wellbeing of the surrounding communities. This study aims (i) to assess the benefits of mangrove forests and their impact on subjective and psychological wellbeing of coastal communities and (ii) to understand the challenges coastal communities face that limit sustainable wellbeing. We have used a mixed methodological approach, combining workshop, interview, and survey, to obtain qualitative and quantitative information from two coastal communities in Malaysia and Indonesia. For quantitative data, 67 participants from both coastal communities participated using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. To obtain opinions from key informants in Malaysia and Indonesia, we organized two stakeholders' workshops and community interviews. When merging these interviews and workshops, we identified the following three themes related to the perception of mangrove forest benefits: (1) the advantage of living in a natural countryside; (2) the natural resources supporting employment, income, and family security; and (3) the increase in subjective and psychological wellbeing. The mean score of wellbeing for Indonesian participants (28.6) was slightly higher than that for Malaysian participants (26.2) and was significant. Overall, the respondents felt happy because the combination of job security and leisure activities supports feeling content and satisfied. The analyses also suggest that the combination of exposure to coastal environments and stress reduction promotes good mental health; however, diagnostic health data are lacking. The lower score of mental wellbeing in Malaysia is attributed to respondents involved in risky fishing activities and local regions with excessive tourism. The findings from this study imply that coastal mangrove forest management plays an important role in the living conditions of coastal communities and their subjective and psychological wellbeing. Hence, restoration and sustainability of mangrove ecosystem are important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guek-Nee Ke
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia,*Correspondence: Guek-Nee Ke
| | | | - Thomas Wagner
- The Lyell Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aziz Arshad
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Tapan Kumar Nath
- School of Environment and Geographical Sciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, Malaysia
| | - Jing Yi Neoh
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Lutfi Surya Muchamad
- Department of Naval Architecture, Institute Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia
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12
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Liu D, Kwan MP. Integrated analysis of doubly disadvantaged neighborhoods by considering both green space and blue space accessibility and COVID-19 infection risk. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273125. [PMID: 36322520 PMCID: PMC9629640 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the physical and mental health of the public. Nevertheless, the presence of green and blue spaces has been shown to be able to encourage physical activities and alleviate the mental distress caused by COVID-19. However, just as the impact of COVID-19 varies by geographical region and area, the distribution of green and blue spaces is also different across different neighborhoods and areas. By using Hong Kong as the study area, we determine the local neighborhoods that suffer from both high COVID-19 infection risk as well as low green and blue space accessibility. The results show that some of the poorest neighborhoods in the territory such as Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin are also among the most doubly disadvantaged in terms of COVID-19 infection risk as well as green and blue space accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, The University of Western Ontario, Social Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mei-Po Kwan
- Department of Geography and Resource Management and Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
- * E-mail:
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13
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Severin MI, Raes F, Notebaert E, Lambrecht L, Everaert G, Buysse A. A Qualitative Study on Emotions Experienced at the Coast and Their Influence on Well-Being. Front Psychol 2022; 13:902122. [PMID: 35756269 PMCID: PMC9226434 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.902122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal environments are increasingly shown to have a positive effect on our health and well-being. Various mechanisms have been suggested to explain this effect. However, so far little focus has been devoted to emotions that might be relevant in this context, especially for people who are directly or indirectly exposed to the coast on a daily basis. Our preregistered qualitative study explored how coastal residents experience the emotions they feel at the coast and how they interpret the effect these emotions have on them. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of eight Belgian coastal residents aged 21–25 years old. The interviews were analyzed with the approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five superordinate themes were identified and indicate that, for our participants, the coast represents a safe haven (1) in which they can experience emotional restoration (2), awe (3), and nostalgia (4). These emotional states are accompanied with adaptive emotion regulating strategies (5), such as reflection and positive reappraisal, that may facilitate coping with difficult thoughts and feelings. Our study demonstrates the importance of investigating specific emotions and related processes triggered at the coast and how these could contribute to the therapeutic value of the coast.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Filip Raes
- Centre for the Psychology of Learning and Experimental Psychopathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Evie Notebaert
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luka Lambrecht
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Ann Buysse
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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14
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Slawsky ED, Hoffman JC, Cowan KN, Rappazzo KM. Beneficial Use Impairments, Degradation of Aesthetics, and Human Health: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19106090. [PMID: 35627644 PMCID: PMC9142078 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In environmental programs and blue/green space development, improving aesthetics is a common goal. There is broad interest in understanding the relationship between ecologically sound environments that people find aesthetically pleasing and human health. However, to date, few studies have adequately assessed this relationship, and no summaries or reviews of this line of research exist. Therefore, we undertook a systematic literature review to determine the state of science and identify critical needs to advance the field. Keywords identified from both aesthetics and loss of habitat literature were searched in PubMed and Web of Science databases. After full text screening, 19 studies were included in the review. Most of these studies examined some measure of greenspace/bluespace, primarily proximity. Only one study investigated the impacts of making space quality changes on a health metric. The studies identified for this review continue to support links between green space and various metrics of health, with additional evidence for blue space benefits on health. No studies to date adequately address questions surrounding the beneficial use impairment degradation of aesthetics and how improving either environmental quality (remediation) or ecological health (restoration) efforts have impacted the health of those communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik D. Slawsky
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Student Services Contractor at US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA;
| | - Joel C. Hoffman
- Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN 55804, USA;
| | - Kristen N. Cowan
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; or
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Kristen M. Rappazzo
- Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-966-6205
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15
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Huang B, Feng Z, Pan Z, Liu Y. Amount of and proximity to blue spaces and general health among older Chinese adults in private and public housing: A national population study. Health Place 2022; 74:102774. [PMID: 35245891 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of research indicates that exposure to outdoor blue spaces is associated with better physical and mental health. However, few studies have explored the associations between different blue space indicators (e.g., amount of and proximity to freshwater and seawater) and general health. Moreover, research has rarely attempted to address the residential selection bias associated with the salutogenic effect of access to blue spaces. Therefore, this study explores the associations between the amount (percentage of blue space within a 1 km circular buffer) of and proximity (Euclidean distance to the edge of the nearest blue space) to blue space and older adults' general health across the entire country of China using the micro-data sample of one-percent national population sample survey in 2015. It adds to the existing literature by taking into account the neighbourhood selection mechanism for different housing tenures and examining the salutogenic effect of blue spaces separately for public housing residents and private housing residents. The results indicated that greater neighbourhood seawater coverage and living near a coastline were associated with better general health among older adults in both private and public housing, while the percentage of freshwater blue spaces within neighbourhoods and the distance to freshwater blue spaces were associated with better general health among private housing residents only. The blue spaces-general health associations were stronger among urban participants, participants in deprived neighbourhoods, males, participants aged under 80 years, and low- and medium-educated participants. Our findings indicated that living near the coast was beneficial to older adults' health, and residential selection bias confounded the association between freshwater blue spaces and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baishi Huang
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Urbanization and Geo-simulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Public Security and Disaster, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhixin Feng
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Urbanization and Geo-simulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Public Security and Disaster, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zehan Pan
- School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ye Liu
- School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Urbanization and Geo-simulation, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Public Security and Disaster, Guangzhou, China.
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16
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Van Acker E, De Rijcke M, Liu Z, Asselman J, De Schamphelaere KAC, Vanhaecke L, Janssen CR. Sea Spray Aerosols Contain the Major Component of Human Lung Surfactant. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:15989-16000. [PMID: 34793130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Marine phytoplankton influence the composition of sea spray aerosols (SSAs) by releasing various compounds. The biogenic surfactant dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is known to accumulate in the sea surface microlayer, but its aerosolization has never been confirmed. We conducted a 1 year SSA sampling campaign at the Belgian coast and analyzed the SSA composition. We quantified DPPC at a median and maximum air concentration of 7.1 and 33 pg m-3, respectively. This discovery may be of great importance for the field linking ocean processes to human health as DPPC is the major component of human lung surfactant and is used as excipient in medical aerosol therapy. The natural airborne exposure to DPPC seems too low to induce direct human health effects but may facilitate the effects of other marine bioactive compounds. By analyzing various environmental variables in relation to the DPPC air concentration, using a generalized linear model, we established that wave height is a key environmental predictor and that it has an inverse relationship. We also demonstrated that DPPC content in SSAs is positively correlated with enriched aerosolization of Mg2+ and Ca2+. In conclusion, our findings are not only important from a human health perspective but they also advance our understanding of the production and composition of SSAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Van Acker
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Maarten De Rijcke
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7, Ostend 8400, Belgium
| | - Zixia Liu
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Jana Asselman
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Campus Oostende, Wetenschapspark 1, Ostend 8400, Belgium
| | - Karel A C De Schamphelaere
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Lynn Vanhaecke
- Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Campus Merelbeke, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, Lisburn Road 97, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - Colin R Janssen
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure Links 653, Ghent 9000, Belgium
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Campus Oostende, Wetenschapspark 1, Ostend 8400, Belgium
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17
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Influence of the Belgian Coast on Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychol Belg 2021; 61:284-295. [PMID: 34621529 PMCID: PMC8462480 DOI: 10.5334/pb.1050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that blue spaces, particularly coastal environments, are beneficial for well-being. During the first-wave lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium, access to the coast was restricted due to restraint in circulation. Making use of this unique opportunity, this study investigated whether access and visits to the coast were positively associated with well-being by using a quasi-experimental design. The emotions of awe and nostalgia were studied as potential mediators between coastal visits and well-being. A total of 687 Flemish adults took part in an online survey that was launched end of April until beginning of June 2020. After controlling for covariates, results showed that access to the coast, but not visit frequency, was positively associated with well-being. More specifically, coastal residents reported less boredom and worry, and more happiness than inland residents. Awe and nostalgia were not significantly associated with coastal visits, but awe was negatively correlated with boredom. The study suggests a potential buffer effect of residential proximity to the coast against negative psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the notion that the coast has a positive impact on well-being.
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18
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Coastal exposure and residents' mental health in the affected areas by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16751. [PMID: 34408202 PMCID: PMC8373874 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96168-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
No previous study has ever explored the association between coastal exposure and the mental health of residents in a post-disaster context. Therefore, we aimed to confirm whether there was an association between sea visibility and coastal proximity and the mental health of coastal residents a devastating tsunami. We targeted 15 coastal municipalities located in the Miyagi Prefecture, and obtained data from a community-based cohort study. The baseline survey was initiated 2 years after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the secondary survey was initiated 6 years after the disaster. We applied multilevel mixed-effects models to the longitudinal data. Our outcome measure was the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) score. We assessed the data collected from 2,327 respondents on both surveys as of April 2018 for this ongoing cohort study. We found that neither sea visibility nor coastal proximity was significantly associated with the recovery of mental health after the disaster. However, we found a distinctive trend of mental health recovery in people who lived alone with a sea view, indicating that visibility of the sea had a negative effect on their mental health immediately after the GEJET, but that the negative effect was subsequently eliminated.
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19
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Is Living in a U.S. Coastal City Good for One's Health? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168399. [PMID: 34444150 PMCID: PMC8393764 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that living close to “blue spaces” (water features), particularly coastlines, has salutary effects on human health. Methods: We analyzed five years of annual, self-reported general health and unhealthy days data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 165 urban areas across the contiguous U.S. We compared health self-reports for people living in coastal vs. non-coastal urban areas and for residents of the disaster-prone Gulf of Mexico region vs. other locations. Coastal urban areas were defined as those having ≥50% of their population living within 20 km of a coast. Results: We found no overall health advantage of residing in a coastal urban location when all urban areas were considered. However, residents from non-Gulf of Mexico coastal urban areas reported modestly better health than residents from non-coastal areas. In contrast, self-reported health of Gulf coastal urban residents was significantly poorer than that of residents from other urban areas. Conclusions: The frequency of disasters and history of health and socioeconomic disparities in the Gulf region may be responsible, at least in part, for the apparent lack of health promoting effects of coastal location there.
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Van Acker E, Huysman S, De Rijcke M, Asselman J, De Schamphelaere KAC, Vanhaecke L, Janssen CR. Phycotoxin-Enriched Sea Spray Aerosols: Methods, Mechanisms, and Human Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:6184-6196. [PMID: 33843191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To date, few studies have examined the role of sea spray aerosols (SSAs) in human exposure to harmful and beneficial marine compounds. Two groups of phycotoxins (brevetoxins and ovatoxins) have been reported to induce respiratory syndromes during harmful algal blooms. The aerosolization and coastal air concentrations of other common marine phycotoxins have, however, never been examined. This study provides the first (experimental) evidence and characterization of the aerosolization of okadaic acid (OA), homoyessotoxin, and dinophysistoxin-1 using seawater spiked with toxic algae combined with the realistic SSA production in a marine aerosol reference tank (MART). The potential for aerosolization of these phycotoxins was highlighted by their 78- to 1769-fold enrichment in SSAs relative to the subsurface water. To obtain and support these results, we first developed an analytical method for the determination of phycotoxin concentrations in SSAs, which showed good linearity (R2 > 0.99), recovery (85.3-101.8%), and precision (RSDs ≤ 17.2%). We also investigated natural phycotoxin air concentrations by means of in situ SSA sampling with concurrent aerosolization experiments using natural seawater in the MART. This approach allowed us to indirectly quantify the (harmless) magnitude of OA concentrations (0.6-51 pg m-3) in Belgium's coastal air. Overall, this study provides new insights into the enriched aerosolization of marine compounds and proposes a framework to assess their airborne exposure and effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Van Acker
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steve Huysman
- Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Campus Merelbeke, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Maarten De Rijcke
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean site, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Jana Asselman
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Campus Oostende, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
| | - Karel A C De Schamphelaere
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lynn Vanhaecke
- Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Campus Merelbeke, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, Lisburn Road 97, BT7 1NN Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Colin R Janssen
- Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Campus Coupure, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Blue Growth Research Lab, Ghent University, Campus Oostende, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400 Ostend, Belgium
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Tashiro A, Nakaya T, Nagata S, Aida J. Types of coastlines and the evacuees' mental health: A repeated cross-sectional study in Northeast Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110372. [PMID: 33131683 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although the health risks and benefits of coastal areas have long been researched, these effects of the different types of coastlines have rarely been explored on the evacuees living near the coast, in a post-disaster context. Thus, this study aimed to explore, with the passing of years after a disaster, what kind of coastline is a useful public health resource as a post-disaster reconstruction approach in coastal environments that have suffered significantly from the tsunami disaster in northeast Japan in 2011. This study compared the evacuees' mental health based on proximity to the coast and the types of coastlines (artificial, semi-natural, and natural). Data were drawn from the Miyagi Prefectural Government surveys, which targeted almost all evacuees of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquakes and Tsunami (n = 96,203). We applied a pooled Poisson regression model to a repeated cross-sectional dataset of evacuees' mental health between 2012 and 2016. Moderate psychological distress, measured via the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) score, was the dependent variable, while proximity to the coast and type of coastline were the independent variables. The estimated main effects of type of coastline indicated that overall associations between K6 ≥5 and all types of coastlines within a 1.6 km buffer of participants' residential space were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, among types of coastlines, the interaction terms of semi-natural coastline × year (2015 and 2016) were significantly associated with lower incidence rate ratios (IRR), which decreased in 2015 and 2016 (IRR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.79-0.98; IRR: 0.78, 95%CI: 0.68-0.90, respectively). Further, we computed the marginal effects of coastline types for each year to observe differences in the impact on moderate psychological distress depending on different accessible coastline types within a distance of 1.6 km from the participants' living space. We found that, after the revision of the coastal act in 2014, the moderate mental stress of participants who lived around semi-natural coastlines significantly tended to be low (dy/dx: -0.04, 95%CI: -0.08-0.01 in 2015; dy/dx: -0.07, 95%CI: -0.11-0.04 in 2016). This finding can encourage policymakers to manage coastal areas with green infrastructure in the post-disaster reconstruction sustainably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Tashiro
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 9808572, Japan.
| | - Tomoki Nakaya
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 9808572, Japan.
| | - Shohei Nagata
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 9808572, Japan.
| | - Jun Aida
- Division for Regional Community Development, Liaison Center for Innovative Dentistry, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, 4-1, Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 9808575, Japan; Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 1138549, Japan.
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22
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Hermanski A, McClelland J, Pearce-Walker J, Ruiz J, Verhougstraete M. The effects of blue spaces on mental health and associated biomarkers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2021.1910173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hermanski
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jean McClelland
- Health Promotion Sciences Department, University of Arizona Health Sciences, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jennifer Pearce-Walker
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - John Ruiz
- College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Marc Verhougstraete
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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23
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Cruyt E, De Vriendt P, De Letter M, Vlerick P, Calders P, De Pauw R, Oostra K, Rodriguez-Bailón M, Szmalec A, Merchán-Baeza JA, Fernández-Solano AJ, Vidaña-Moya L, Van de Velde D. Meaningful activities during COVID-19 lockdown and association with mental health in Belgian adults. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:622. [PMID: 33785029 PMCID: PMC8009071 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10673-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spread of COVID-19 has affected people's daily lives, and the lockdown may have led to a disruption of daily activities and a decrease of people's mental health. AIM To identify correlates of adults' mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium and to assess the role of meaningful activities in particular. METHODS A cross-sectional web survey for assessing mental health (General Health Questionnaire), resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), meaning in activities (Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey), and demographics was conducted during the first Belgian lockdown between April 24 and May 4, 2020. The lockdown consisted of closing schools, non-essential shops, and recreational settings, employees worked from home or were technically unemployed, and it was forbidden to undertake social activities. Every adult who had access to the internet and lived in Belgium could participate in the survey; respondents were recruited online through social media and e-mails. Hierarchical linear regression was used to identify key correlates. RESULTS Participants (N = 1781) reported low mental health (M = 14.85/36). In total, 42.4% of the variance in mental health could be explained by variables such as gender, having children, living space, marital status, health condition, and resilience (β = -.33). Loss of meaningful activities was strongly related to mental health (β = -.36) and explained 9% incremental variance (R2 change = .092, p < .001) above control variables. CONCLUSIONS The extent of performing meaningful activities during the COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium was positively related to adults' mental health. Insights from this study can be taken into account during future lockdown measures in case of pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Cruyt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patricia De Vriendt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Artevelde University College, Ghent, Belgium
- Mental Health Research group, Frailty in Ageing Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miet De Letter
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vlerick
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Department of Work, Organization and Society, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick Calders
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robby De Pauw
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristine Oostra
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Arnaud Szmalec
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza
- Research group on Methodology, Methods, Models and Outcomes of Health and Social Sciences (M3O), Faculty of Health Science and Welfare, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVIC-UCC), 08500, Vic, Spain
| | - Ana Judit Fernández-Solano
- Department of Occupational Therapy. School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Laura Vidaña-Moya
- Research Group GrEUIT, Escola Universitària d'Infermeria i Teràpia Ocupacional de Terrassa (EUIT), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Terrassa, Spain
| | - Dominique Van de Velde
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech-language Pathology/Audiology, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B3, entrance 46, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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24
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Georgiou M, Morison G, Smith N, Tieges Z, Chastin S. Mechanisms of Impact of Blue Spaces on Human Health: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18052486. [PMID: 33802522 PMCID: PMC7967635 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Blue spaces have been found to have significant salutogenic effects. However, little is known about the mechanisms and pathways that link blue spaces and health. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarise the evidence and quantify the effect of blue spaces on four hypothesised mediating pathways: physical activity, restoration, social interaction and environmental factors. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a literature search was conducted using six databases (PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCOHOST/CINAHL). Fifty studies were included in our systematic review. The overall quality of the included articles, evaluated with the Qualsyst tool, was judged to be very good, as no mediating pathway had an average article quality lower than 70%. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for physical activity, restoration and social interaction. Living closer to blue space was associated with statistically significantly higher physical activity levels (Cohen’s d = 0.122, 95% CI: 0.065, 0.179). Shorter distance to blue space was not associated with restoration (Cohen’s d = 0.123, 95% CI: −0.037, 0.284) or social interaction (Cohen’s d = −0.214, 95% CI: −0.55, 0.122). Larger amounts of blue space within a geographical area were significantly associated with higher physical activity levels (Cohen’s d = 0.144, 95% CI: 0.024, 0.264) and higher levels of restoration (Cohen’s d = 0.339, 95% CI: 0.072, 0.606). Being in more contact with blue space was significantly associated with higher levels of restoration (Cohen’s d = 0.191, 95% CI: 0.084, 0.298). There is also evidence that blue spaces improve environmental factors, but more studies are necessary for meta-analyses to be conducted. Evidence is conflicting on the mediating effects of social interaction and further research is required on this hypothesised pathway. Blue spaces may offer part of a solution to public health concerns faced by growing global urban populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michail Georgiou
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (N.S.); (Z.T.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Gordon Morison
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK;
| | - Niamh Smith
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (N.S.); (Z.T.); (S.C.)
| | - Zoë Tieges
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (N.S.); (Z.T.); (S.C.)
- Geriatric Medicine, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
| | - Sebastien Chastin
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK; (N.S.); (Z.T.); (S.C.)
- Department of Movement and Sports, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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25
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The Restorative Potential of Icelandic Nature. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17239095. [PMID: 33291500 PMCID: PMC7730928 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17239095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate if proposed restorative attributes according to attention restoration theory and supportive environment theory could be experienced and identified in Icelandic landscape and contribute to a restorative experience in nature sites in rural Iceland. A prospective mixed-method study was conducted over the period of one year. Seven different nature sites that were considered likely to have restorative qualities were selected for the evaluation i.e., three forest sites, three seashores, and one park in and in the vicinity of Ísafjörður, Iceland. Each site was evaluated regarding how the participants experienced its restorative qualities and how a stay therein affected their mental state. Nature visits were offered once a week, where the participants visited one of the seven locations for two hours. The findings show that the participants perceived and experienced nature sites as having the characteristics of a restorative environment and that staying at the nature sites positively affected their mental state. External conditions, like weather, which can affect nature visits, were rarely a hinderance. Thus, it can be concluded that numerous coastal areas, forests, and parks in Iceland, especially in rural areas, might possess restorative qualities as well. This result shows that wild and open nature in North West Iceland has the characteristics of a restorative environment and can be utilized for health promotion.
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26
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White MP, Elliott LR, Gascon M, Roberts B, Fleming LE. Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110169. [PMID: 32971082 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Research into the potential health and well-being benefits from exposure to green spaces such as parks and woodlands has led to the development of several frameworks linking the different strands of evidence. The current paper builds on these to provide a model of how exposure to aquatic environments, or blue spaces such as rivers, lakes and the coast, in particular, may benefit health and well-being. Although green and blue spaces share many commonalities, there are also important differences. Given the breadth of the research, spanning multiple disciplines and research methodologies, a narrative review approach was adopted which aimed to highlight key issues and processes rather than provide a definitive balance of evidence summary. Novel aspects of our framework included the inclusion of outcomes that are only indirectly good for health through being good for the environment, the addition of nature connectedness as both a trait and state, and feedback loops where actions/interventions to increase exposure are implemented. Limitations of the review and areas for future work, including the need to integrate potential benefits with potential risks, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew P White
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK; Urban & Environmental Psychology Group, University of Vienna, Austria.
| | - Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Mireia Gascon
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bethany Roberts
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Lora E Fleming
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter, UK
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27
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Vert C, Gascon M, Ranzani O, Márquez S, Triguero-Mas M, Carrasco-Turigas G, Arjona L, Koch S, Llopis M, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Elliott LR, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Physical and mental health effects of repeated short walks in a blue space environment: A randomised crossover study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109812. [PMID: 32590148 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Blue spaces may benefit mental health and promote physical activity, although the evidence is still scarce. And benefits on physical health are less consistent. The objective of this randomized crossover study was to assess psychological and cardiovascular responses to blue spaces' exposure. METHODS A sample of 59 healthy adult office workers was randomly assigned to a different environment (i.e. blue space, urban space, and control site) on 4 days each week, for 3 weeks. For 20 min per day, they either walked along a blue or an urban space or rested at a control site. Before, during and/or after the exposure, we measured self-reported well-being and mood, blood pressure, and heart rate variability parameters. For well-being, we also assessed the duration of these potential effects over time (at least 4 h after exposure). RESULTS We found significantly improved well-being and mood responses immediately after walking in the blue space compared with walking in the urban space or when resting in the control site. Cardiovascular responses showed increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, both during and after walking along the blue and urban spaces. However, cardiovascular responses measured after the walks, showed no statistically significant differences between the blue and the urban space environments. CONCLUSIONS Short walks in blue spaces can benefit both well-being and mood. However, we did not observe a positive effect of blue spaces for any of the cardiovascular outcomes assessed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Vert
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Gascon
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Otavio Ranzani
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Márquez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Margarita Triguero-Mas
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; IMIM (Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Glòria Carrasco-Turigas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Arjona
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Koch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Llopis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Donaire-Gonzalez
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lewis R Elliott
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
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28
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Moore MN. Lysosomes, Autophagy, and Hormesis in Cell Physiology, Pathology, and Age-Related Disease. Dose Response 2020; 18:1559325820934227. [PMID: 32684871 PMCID: PMC7343375 DOI: 10.1177/1559325820934227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy has been strongly linked with hormesis, however, it is only relatively recently that the mechanistic basis underlying this association has begun to emerge. Lysosomal autophagy is a group of processes that degrade proteins, protein aggregates, membranes, organelles, segregated regions of cytoplasm, and even parts of the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. These degradative processes are evolutionarily very ancient and provide a survival capability for cells that are stressed or injured. Autophagy and autophagic dysfunction have been linked with many aspects of cell physiology and pathology in disease processes; and there is now intense interest in identifying various therapeutic strategies involving its regulation. The main regulatory pathway for augmented autophagy is the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) cell signaling, although other pathways can be involved, such as 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Mechanistic target of rapamycin is a key player in the many highly interconnected intracellular signaling pathways and is responsible for the control of cell growth among other processes. Inhibition of mTOR (specifically dephosphorylation of mTOR complex 1) triggers augmented autophagy and the search is on the find inhibitors that can induce hormetic responses that may be suitable for treating many diseases, including many cancers, type 2 diabetes, and age-related neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael N. Moore
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health (ECEHH), University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, United Kingdom
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
- School of Biological & Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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29
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Dzhambov AM, Browning MHEM, Markevych I, Hartig T, Lercher P. Analytical approaches to testing pathways linking greenspace to health: A scoping review of the empirical literature. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 186:109613. [PMID: 32668553 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inadequate translation from theoretical to statistical models of the greenspace - health relationship may lead to incorrect conclusions about the importance of some pathways, which in turn may reduce the effectiveness of public health interventions involving urban greening. In this scoping review we aimed to: (1) summarize the general characteristics of approaches to intervening variable inference (mediation analysis) employed in epidemiological research in the field; (2) identify potential threats to the validity of findings; and (3) propose recommendations for planning, conducting, and reporting mediation analyses. METHODS We conducted a scoping review, searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed epidemiological studies published by December 31, 2019. The list of potential studies was continuously updated through other sources until March 2020. Narrative presentation of the results was coupled with descriptive summary of study characteristics. RESULTS We found 106 studies, most of which were cross-sectional in design. Most studies only had a spatial measure of greenspace. Mental health/well-being was the most commonly studied outcome, and physical activity and air pollution were the most commonly tested intervening variables. Most studies only conducted single mediation analysis, even when multiple potentially intertwined mediators were measured. The analytical approaches used were causal steps, difference-of-coefficients, product-of-coefficients, counterfactual framework, and structural equation modelling (SEM). Bootstrapping was the most commonly used method to construct the 95% CI of the indirect effect. The product-of-coefficients method and SEM as used to investigate serial mediation components were more likely to yield findings of indirect effect. In some cases, the causal steps approach thwarted tests of indirect effect, even though both links in an indirect effect were supported. In most studies, sensitivity analyses and proper methodological discussion of the modelling approach were missing. CONCLUSIONS We found a persistent pattern of suboptimal conduct and reporting of mediation analysis in epidemiological studies investigating pathways linking greenspace to health; however, recent years have seen improvements in these respects. Better planning, conduct, and reporting of mediation analyses are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel M Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene and Ecomedicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
| | - Matthew H E M Browning
- Department of Park, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, USA
| | - Iana Markevych
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Terry Hartig
- Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Lercher
- Institute for Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
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