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Peng W, Lin S, Chen B, Bai X, Wu C, Zhang X, Yang Y, Cui J, Xu W, Song L, Yang H, He W, Zhang Y, Li X, Lu J. Area-level socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in China: a nationwide cohort study based on the ChinaHEART project. Lancet Public Health 2024:S2468-2667(24)00154-3. [PMID: 39419059 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00154-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Socioeconomic status is a key social determinant of health. Compared with individual-level socioeconomic status, the association between area-level socioeconomic status and mortality has not been well investigated in China. We aimed to assess associations between area-level socioeconomic status and all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in China, as well as the interplay of area-level and individual-level socioeconomic status on mortality. METHODS In this nationwide cohort study, residents aged 35-75 years from 453 districts and counties were included in the China Health Evaluation and Risk Reduction Through Nationwide Teamwork (ChinaHEART) Study. The composite value of area-level socioeconomic status was generated from national census data and categorised into tertiles. Mortality rates and their 95% CIs were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method. Cox frailty models were fitted to calculate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs for area-level socioeconomic status with the risk of all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality and their disparities across different population. We also assessed the roles of multiple individual factors as potential mediators. FINDINGS Between December, 2015, and December, 2022, 1 119 027 participants were included, for whom the mean age was 56·1 (SD 9·9) years and 672 385 (60·1%) were female. 24 426 (5·24 [95% CI 5·18-5·31] per 1000 person-years) deaths occurred during the median 4·5-year follow-up. Compared with high area-level socioeconomic status, low area-level socioeconomic status was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause (hazard ratio 1·11, 95% CI 1·07-1·16), cardiovascular disease (1·38, 1·29-1·48), and respiratory disease (1·44, 1·22-1·71) mortality. The stronger associations were observed in people older than 60 years, females, and participants with lower individual-level socioeconomic status. The individual-level socioeconomic, behavioural, and metabolic factors mediated 39·5% of the association between area-level socioeconomic status and mortality, of which individual-level socioeconomic status made the largest contribution. INTERPRETATION There are substantial area-level socioeconomic status-related inequalities in mortality in China. Individual-level socioeconomic, behavioural, and metabolic factors had mediating effects. Actions to improve area-level circumstances and individual factors are needed to improve health equity. FUNDING The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Science, the National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding, the Ministry of Finance of China, and the National Health Commission of China. TRANSLATION For the Chinese translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyao Peng
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bowang Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xueke Bai
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoqun Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jianlan Cui
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan Song
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wenyan He
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Central China Sub-center of the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jiapeng Lu
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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Liu K, Liao C. Examining the importance of neighborhood natural, and built environment factors in predicting older adults' mental well-being: An XGBoost-SHAP approach. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 262:119929. [PMID: 39251179 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 09/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that urban neighborhood environmental factors significantly influence the health outcomes of urban older adults. However, most cross-sectional studies exploring the health effects of these factors have failed to quantify the relative importance of each factor. METHODS We use XGBoost machine learning techniques and SHAPley Additive Interpretation (SHAP) to rank the importance of urban neighborhood environmental factors in shaping the mental health of urban older adults. To address self-selection bias in housing choice, we distinguish older adults living in private housing from those living in public as residents in private housing have more freedom to choose where to live. RESULTS The results show that both natural and built environmental factors in urban neighborhoods are important predictors of mental well-being scores. Five natural environmental factors (blue space, perceived greenery quantity, NDVI, street view greenness, aesthetic quality) and three built environmental factors (physical activity facilities quality, physical activity facilities quantity, neighborhood disorder) had considerable predictive power for mental well-being scores in two groups. Among them, blue space, perceived greenery quantity and street view greenness quantity became less important after controlling for self-selection bias, possibly because of the unequal distribution of quantity and quality, and the performance of neighborhood disorder, aesthetic quality and physical activity facilities quality was more sensitive in public housing. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight the nuanced and differential effects of neighborhood environmental exposures on mental well-being outcomes, depending on housing preferences. The results of this study can provide support for decision makers in urban planning, landscape design and environmental management in order to improve the mental well-being status of urban older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaijun Liu
- Institute of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone Development, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, China.
| | - Changni Liao
- Chongqing Nursing Vocational College, Chongqing, 402760, China
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Abo Hamza E, Tindle R, Pawlak S, Bedewy D, Moustafa AA. The impact of poverty and socioeconomic status on brain, behaviour, and development: a unified framework. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:597-617. [PMID: 38607658 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
In this article, we, for the first time, provide a comprehensive overview and unified framework of the impact of poverty and low socioeconomic status (SES) on the brain and behaviour. While there are many studies on the impact of low SES on the brain (including cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and even neurotransmitters) and behaviours (including educational attainment, language development, development of psychopathological disorders), prior studies did not integrate behavioural, educational, and neural findings in one framework. Here, we argue that the impact of poverty and low SES on the brain and behaviour are interrelated. Specifically, based on prior studies, due to a lack of resources, poverty and low SES are associated with poor nutrition, high levels of stress in caregivers and their children, and exposure to socio-environmental hazards. These psychological and physical injuries impact the normal development of several brain areas and neurotransmitters. Impaired functioning of the amygdala can lead to the development of psychopathological disorders, while impaired hippocampus and cortex functions are associated with a delay in learning and language development as well as poor academic performance. This in turn perpetuates poverty in children, leading to a vicious cycle of poverty and psychological/physical impairments. In addition to providing economic aid to economically disadvantaged families, interventions should aim to tackle neural abnormalities caused by poverty and low SES in early childhood. Importantly, acknowledging brain abnormalities due to poverty in early childhood can help increase economic equity. In the current study, we provide a comprehensive list of future studies to help understand the impact of poverty on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eid Abo Hamza
- College of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, 289293 Al Ain University , 64141, Al Jimi, UAE
- Faculty of Education, Tanta University, Al-Geish St., 122011, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Richard Tindle
- JMS Allied Services, 1109 Coffs Harbour , NSW, 2452, Australia
| | - Simon Pawlak
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Dalia Bedewy
- Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Sciences, 59104 Ajman University , University Street, Al jerf 1, Ajman, UAE
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Tanta University, Al-Geish St., 122011, Tanta, Egypt
- 59104 Humanities and Social Sciences Research Center (HSSRC), Ajman University , University Street, Al jerf 1, Ajman, UAE
| | - Ahmed A Moustafa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Cnr Kingsway & University Roads, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Society and Design, 448704 Bond University , 14 University Dr, Robina QLD 4226, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Hazlehurst MF, Hajat A, Szpiro AA, Tandon PS, Kaufman JD, Loftus CT, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Hare ME, Sathyanarayana S, Karr CJ. Individual and Neighborhood Level Predictors of Children's Exposure to Residential Greenspace. J Urban Health 2024; 101:349-363. [PMID: 38485845 PMCID: PMC11052952 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00829-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Inequities in urban greenspace have been identified, though patterns by race and socioeconomic status vary across US settings. We estimated the magnitude of the relationship between a broad mixture of neighborhood-level factors and residential greenspace using weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and compared predictive models of greenspace using only neighborhood-level, only individual-level, or multi-level predictors. Greenspace measures included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), tree canopy, and proximity of the nearest park, for residential locations in Shelby County, Tennessee of children in the CANDLE cohort. Neighborhood measures include socioeconomic and education resources, as well as racial composition and racial residential segregation. In this sample of 1012 mother-child dyads, neighborhood factors were associated with higher NDVI and tree canopy (0.021 unit higher NDVI [95% CI: 0.014, 0.028] per quintile increase in WQS index); homeownership rate, proximity of and enrollment at early childhood education centers, and racial composition, were highly weighted in the WQS index. In models constrained in the opposite direction (0.028 unit lower NDVI [95% CI: - 0.036, - 0.020]), high school graduation rate and teacher experience were highly weighted. In prediction models, adding individual-level predictors to the suite of neighborhood characteristics did not meaningfully improve prediction accuracy for greenspace measures. Our findings highlight disparities in greenspace for families by neighborhood socioeconomic and early education factors, and by race, suggesting several neighborhood indicators for consideration both as potential confounders in studies of greenspace and pediatric health as well as in the development of policies and programs to improve equity in greenspace access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnie F Hazlehurst
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Anjum Hajat
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Adam A Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Pooja S Tandon
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joel D Kaufman
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christine T Loftus
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marion E Hare
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine J Karr
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Rogers AE, Schenkelberg MA, Stoepker P, Westmark D, Srivastava D, Dzewaltowski DA. Indicators of community physical activity resources and opportunities and variation by community sociodemographic characteristics: A scoping review. Prev Med Rep 2024; 40:102656. [PMID: 38435416 PMCID: PMC10904198 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This scoping review synthesizes studies examining community-level variability in physical activity resource (assets) and opportunity (organized group physical activity services) availability by community sociodemographic characteristics to describe methodologies for measuring resources/opportunities, indicators characterizing availability, and associations between community-level sociodemographic characteristics and availability. Methods A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus for literature through 2022. Eligible studies quantitatively examined measures of physical activity resource/opportunity availability by community-level racial, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic characteristics within geospatially defined communities. Extracted data included: community geospatial definitions, sociodemographic characteristics assessed, methodologies for measuring and indicators of community physical activity resource/opportunity availability, and study findings. Results Among the 46 included studies, community geospatial units were defined by 28 different community boundaries (e.g., town), and 13% of studies were conducted in rural areas. Nearly all (98%) studies measured community-level socioeconomic status, and 45% of studies measured race/ethnicity. A total of 41 indicators of physical activity resource/opportunity availability were identified. Most studies (91%) assessed built environment resources (e.g., parks), while 8.7% of studies assessed opportunities (e.g., programs). Of 141 associations/differences between community sociodemographic characteristics and resource/opportunity availability, 29.8% indicated greater availability in communities of higher socioeconomic status or lower prevalence of minority populations. The remaining findings were in the opposite direction (9.2%), non-significant (36.9%), or mixed (24.1%). Conclusions Variability in physical activity resources/opportunities by community sociodemographic characteristics was not consistently evident. However, the indicators synthesized may be useful for informing population health improvement efforts by illuminating the physical and social conditions impacting population physical activity outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann E. Rogers
- Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4365, USA
| | - Michaela A. Schenkelberg
- School of Health and Kinesiology, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Peter Stoepker
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Kansas State University, 920 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | - Danielle Westmark
- Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986705 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6705, USA
| | - Deepa Srivastava
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 840 N 14 Street, Lincoln, NE 68588-0236, USA
| | - David A. Dzewaltowski
- Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984365 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4365, USA
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Lin CY, Chandrabose M, Hadgraft N, Selvakumaran S, Owen N, Oka K, Shibata A, Sugiyama T. Neighborhood socioeconomic status and cardiometabolic risk: mediating roles of domain-specific physical activities and sedentary behaviors. Ann Epidemiol 2023; 83:1-7. [PMID: 37094624 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We examined the potential mediating roles of domain-specific physical activities and sedentary behaviors in the relationship between area-level socioeconomic status (SES) and cardiometabolic risk. METHODS Data were from the 2011/2012 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study (n = 3431). The outcome was a clustered cardiometabolic risk (CCR) score, and the exposure was suburb-level SES. Potential mediators were domain-specific physical activities and sedentary behaviors. Multilevel linear regression models examined associations between SES and potential mediators (α) and between mediators and CCR (β). Mediation was assessed using the joint-significance test. RESULTS Higher SES was associated with a lower CCR score. Lower SES was associated with less frequent walking for transport, lower vigorous-intensity recreational physical activity, and higher TV time, which were associated with higher CCR scores. However, higher SES was associated with longer transport-related sitting time (all modes and in cars), which were associated with higher CCR scores. CONCLUSIONS The SES-cardiometabolic risk relationship may be partially explained by walking for transport, vigorous-intensity recreational physical activity, and TV viewing. These findings, which require corroboration from prospective evidence and clarification of the roles of transport-related sitting and occupational physical activity, can inform initiatives addressing socioeconomic inequalities in cardiometabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Yu Lin
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan; Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Manoj Chandrabose
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nyssa Hadgraft
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sungkavi Selvakumaran
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neville Owen
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Koichiro Oka
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ai Shibata
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Takemi Sugiyama
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Klopfer F, Pfeiffer A. Determining spatial disparities and similarities regarding heat exposure, green provision, and social structure of urban areas - A study on the city district level in the Ruhr area, Germany. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16185. [PMID: 37251453 PMCID: PMC10220383 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16185] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat islands and ongoing urbanization make cities places where the negative impacts of global climate change on society are becoming increasingly evident. Especially the interplay and potential multiplication of heat, low green provision, and the presence of socially deprived urban dwellers constitutes complex challenges. Emerging climate injustices and potential health issues require a powerful counter-reaction in form of adaptation action. For our study, we consider eight cities located in the densely populated and historically highly segregated Ruhr area in Western Germany, which is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Europe with a heterogeneous distribution of socio-spatial problems, economic potential, heat stress, and green infrastructures. We use land surface temperature (LST), data on green provision (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)), and social indicators to reveal the relationships between these indicators on the city district level (n = 275). Therefore, we first analyze the data regarding spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I) and clustering (Gi*) before calculating study area wide and city specific correlations between the three factors regarded. Finally, we conduct a cluster analysis (k-means) to disclose similar areas with or without multiple burdens. Our results show distinct disparities in heat exposure, green availability, and social status between city districts of the study area. We find strong negative correlations between LST and NDVI as well as between NDVI and social status. The relationship between LST and our social indicator remains ambiguous, affirming the necessity of further detailed studies. The cluster analysis furthermore allows for the visualization and classification of districts featuring similar characteristics regarding the researched components. We can discern in parts pronounced climate injustice in the studied cities, with a majority of people living in unfavorable environmental and socio-economic conditions. Our analysis supports governments and those responsible for urban planning in addressing climate injustice in the future.
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Perafita X, Saez M. Housing Supply and How It Is Related to Social Inequalities-Air Pollution, Green Spaces, Crime Levels, and Poor Areas-In Catalonia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085578. [PMID: 37107859 PMCID: PMC10138561 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085578] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We carried out a search of over 12,000 houses offered on the rental market in Catalonia and assessed the possibility of families below the poverty threshold being able to rent these homes. In this regard, we wanted to evaluate whether the economic situation of families is able to influence their social environment, surroundings, and safety. We observed how their economic situation can allow families the possibility of developing a life without exposure to health risks, and how economic constraints result in disadvantages in several areas of life. The results show how families at risk of poverty live in less favourable conditions and experience a widening of different gaps, with current prices leading to a possible poverty trap for the most disadvantaged groups. The higher the percentage of the population below the threshold, the lower the possibility of not being able to rent a house compared to areas with a lower prevalence of population below the threshold. This association was observed both when considering the risk linearly and non-linearly. Linearly, the probability of not renting a house was reduced by 8.36% for each 1% increase in the prevalence of population at risk of extreme poverty. In the second, third and fourth percentage quartiles, the probability of not being able to rent a house decreased by 21.13%, 48.61%, and 57.79%, respectively. In addition, the effect was different inside and outside of metropolitan areas, with the former showing a decrease of 19.05% in the probability of renting a house, whereas outside metropolitan areas the probability increased by 5.70%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Perafita
- Observatori—Organisme Autònom de Salut Pública de la Diputació de Girona (Dipsalut), 17003 Girona, Spain
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Saez
- Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Dadvand P, Márquez S, Bartoll X, Barboza EP, Cirach M, Borrell C, Zijlema WL. The evaluation of the 3-30-300 green space rule and mental health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114387. [PMID: 36162472 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Urban green space has many health benefits, but it is still unclear how much actually is needed for better health. Recently a new 3-30-300 rule of thumb for urban forestry and urban greening has been proposed, but this rule has not been evaluated for benefits on health. The rule requires that every citizen should be able to see at least three trees from their home, have 30 percent tree canopy cover in their neighbourhood and not live more than 300 m away from the nearest park or green space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the 3-30-300 green space rule and its components in relation to mental health. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a population-based sample of 3145 individuals aged 15-97 years from in Barcelona, Spain who participated in the Barcelona Health Survey (2016-2017). We created 3-30-300 green space indicators using questionnaire data, GIS, remote sensing and land cover maps. Mental health status was assessed with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and also the use of tranquilizer/sedatives or antidepressants and psychiatrist or psychologist visits. Analyses were conducted using mixed effects logistic regression models with districts as the random effect, adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS We found that people in Barcelona had relatively little exposure to green space, whether through window view, living in an area with sufficient greenness, or access to a major green space, and only 4.7% met a surrogate 3-30-300 green space rule. Residential surrounding greenness, but not tree window view or access to major green space, was significantly associated with better mental health, less medication use, and fewer psychologist or psychiatrist visits. Meeting the full surrogate 3-30-300 green space rule was associated with better mental health, less medication use, and fewer psychologist or psychiatrist visits, but only for the latter combined the association was statistically significant (Odds ratio = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.91). CONCLUSION Few people achieved the 3-30-300 green space in Barcelona and we used a surrogate measure. We observed health benefits when the full surrogate rule was met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Payam Dadvand
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Márquez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Bartoll
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Avinguda Pŕıncep D'Astúries, 63 (1-1), 08012, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), 08041, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Evelise Pereira Barboza
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cirach
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carme Borrell
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Avinguda Pŕıncep D'Astúries, 63 (1-1), 08012, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), 08041, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wilma L Zijlema
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Hartig C, Bolte G, Jöckel KH, Moebus S, Riedel N. Neighbourhood socio-economic status and positive affectivity among older residents in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis with data from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study. BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:891. [PMID: 36418996 PMCID: PMC9682725 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03459-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical and social neighbourhood characteristics can vary according to the neighbourhood socio-economic status (SES) and influence residents' perceptions, behaviours and health outcomes both positively and negatively. Neighbourhood SES has been shown to be predictive of mental health, which is relevant for healthy ageing and prevention of dementia or depression. Positive affectivity (PA) is an established indicator of mental health and might indicate a positive emotional response to neighbourhood characteristics. In this study, we focussed on the association of neighbourhood SES with PA among older residents in Germany and considered social integration and environmental perceptions in this association. METHODS We used questionnaire-based data of the ongoing population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study for our cross-sectional analysis, complemented by secondary data on social welfare rates in the neighbourhood of residents' address. PA was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in 2016. Linear regression models were performed to estimate the associations and adjusted for socio-demographic variables. RESULTS Higher social welfare rates were associated with lower PA scores. The strongest negative association from the crude model (b = -1.916, 95%-CI [-2.997, -0.835]) was reduced after controlling for socio-demographic variables (b = -1.429, 95%-CI [-2.511, -0.346]). Social integration factors (b = -1.199, 95%-CI [-2.276, -0.121]) and perceived environmental factors (b = -0.875, 95%-CI [-1.971, 0.221]) additionally diminished the association of social welfare rates with PA in the full model (b = -0.945, 95%-CI [-2.037, 0.147]). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that neighbourhoods have an influence on the occurrence and the extent of PA. Public health interventions that address socio-economic disadvantage in the neighbourhood environment could be an effective and far-reaching way to reduce the risk of depression and depressive symptoms due to low PA in older residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Hartig
- grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 4, 28359 Bremen, Germany ,grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Gabriele Bolte
- grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 4, 28359 Bremen, Germany ,grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Jöckel
- grid.410718.b0000 0001 0262 7331Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry und Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Susanne Moebus
- grid.5718.b0000 0001 2187 5445University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute for Urban Public Health, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Natalie Riedel
- grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 4, 28359 Bremen, Germany ,grid.7704.40000 0001 2297 4381Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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11
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Hassenstein MJ, Janzen I, Krause G, Harries M, Melhorn V, Kerrinnes T, Kemmling Y, Castell S. Seroepidemiology of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. among German National Cohort (NAKO) Participants, Hanover. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2286. [PMID: 36422355 PMCID: PMC9694946 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the leading tick-related illness in Europe, caused by Borrelia Burgdorferi s.l. Lower Saxony, Germany, including its capital, Hanover, has a higher proportion of infected ticks than central European countries, justifying a research focus on the potential human consequences. The current knowledge gap on human incident infections, particularly in Western Germany, demands serological insights, especially regarding a potentially changing climate-related tick abundance and activity. We determined the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) serostatuses for 8009 German National Cohort (NAKO) participants from Hanover, examined in 2014-2018. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as the screening and a line immunoblot as confirmation for the Borrelia Burgdorferi s.l. antibodies. We weighted the seropositivity proportions to estimate general population seropositivity and estimated the force of infection (FOI). Using logistic regression, we investigated risk factors for seropositivity. Seropositivity was 3.0% (IgG) and 2.1% (IgM). The FOI varied with age, sharply increasing in participants aged ≥40 years. We confirmed advancing age and male sex as risk factors. We reported reduced odds for seropositivity with increasing body mass index and depressive symptomatology, respectively, pointing to an impact of lifestyle-related behaviors. The local proportion of seropositive individuals is comparable to previous estimates for northern Germany, indicating a steady seroprevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J. Hassenstein
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- PhD Programme “Epidemiology” Braunschweig-Hannover, Germany
| | - Irina Janzen
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gérard Krause
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
- Hanover Medical School (MHH), 30625 Hannover, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture of the Hannover Medical School and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Manuela Harries
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Vanessa Melhorn
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Tobias Kerrinnes
- Department of RNA-Biology of Bacterial Infections, Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kemmling
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefanie Castell
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, A Joint Venture of the Hannover Medical School and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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12
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Shao S, Liu L, Tian Z. Does the environmental inequality matter? A literature review. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2022; 44:3133-3156. [PMID: 33847864 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00921-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The environmental inequality theory reveals that the risk of environmental pollution exposure varies among regions and groups and that particular groups face a higher threat of environmental pollution. In recent years, studies on the environmental inequality issue in developed countries have been increasing, while related literature on developing countries is very scarce. It has been found that some factors, such as race and economic status, have a close relationship with the risk of environmental pollution exposure faced by individuals. For the first time, this paper provides an extensive review of existing theoretical and empirical studies on environmental inequality. We review, in detail, the evolution of the environmental inequality theory, including the definition and measurement of environmental inequality. Further, we provide a systematic refresher on the main performance of environmental inequality, including health, education, labor productivity, and real estate prices. We also identify several causes of environmental inequality, such as ethnic differences, economic status, human capital, and household registration systems. Finally, we discuss prospects for the future research on this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shao
- School of Business, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- School of Urban and Regional Science, Institute of Finance and Economics Research, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Liwen Liu
- School of Urban and Regional Science, Institute of Finance and Economics Research, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhihua Tian
- School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
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13
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Du S, He H, Liu Y, Xing L. Identifying Key Factors Associated with Green Justice in Accessibility: A Gradient Boosting Decision Tree Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10357. [PMID: 36011991 PMCID: PMC9407995 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610357] [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: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Park green space (PGS) provides numerous environmental and health benefits for urban residents, and raises the issue of green justice for its uneven distribution in cities. Previous studies focus more on the measurements of spatial equity in accessibility, but are limited in exploring its impacts-especially the nonlinear influence. This study first measures accessibility and equity in two traffic modes, and then explores the nonlinear influence of multidimensional factors by using the gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model across the central urban area of Wuhan. The results show significant spatial disparities in spatial accessibility and equity by walking and driving within 15 min. Multidimensional factors-including characteristics of PGS, the built environment, and socioeconomic factors-present stronger nonlinear influences on spatial accessibility and equity, and the nonlinear influence indicates that the contributions of the built environment and socioeconomic factors are greater than those of park characteristics, accounting for at least 79.76%. The key variables affecting the accessibility and equity are not completely consistent, leading to synergistic and heterogeneous effects, which may provide policy implications for streets where accessibility and equity are mismatched. These findings could provide guidance for PGS planning by decision-makers to improve the living environment and urban health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sainan Du
- Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, 368 Youyi Road, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Huagui He
- Guangzhou Urban Planning and Design Survey Research Institute, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- School of Resource and Environment Science, Wuhan University, 129 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lijun Xing
- Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, 368 Youyi Road, Wuhan 430062, China
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14
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Exploring Environmental Health Inequalities: A Scientometric Analysis of Global Research Trends (1970-2020). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127394. [PMID: 35742642 PMCID: PMC9223819 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127394] [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: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Environmental health inequalities (EHI), understood as differences in environmental health factors and in health outcomes caused by environmental conditions, are studied by a wide range of disciplines. This results in challenges to both synthesizing key knowledge domains of the field. This study aims to uncover the global research status and trends in EHI research, and to derive a conceptual framework for the underlying mechanisms of EHI. In total, 12,320 EHI publications were compiled from the Web of Science core collection from 1970 to 2020. Scientometric analysis was adopted to characterize the research activity, distribution, focus, and trends. Content analysis was conducted for the highlight work identified from network analysis. Keyword co-occurrence and cluster analysis were applied to identify the knowledge domain and develop the EHI framework. The results show that there has been a steady increase in numbers of EHI publications, active journals, and involved disciplines, countries, and institutions since the 2000s, with marked differences between countries in the number of published articles and active institutions. In the recent decade, environment-related disciplines have gained importance in addition to social and health sciences. This study proposes a framework to conceptualize the multi-facetted issues in EHI research referring to existing key concepts.
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15
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Stanley C, Hecht R, Cakir S, Brzoska P. Approach to user group-specific assessment of urban green spaces for a more equitable supply exemplified by the elderly population. ONE ECOSYSTEM 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.7.e83325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The use of urban green spaces (UGS) depends on its quality, which is perceived very differently by diverse socio-demographic groups. In particular, elderly people have special demands on the UGS quality. It is essential to know these demands to create an equitable UGS supply. We present an approach to determining some qualitative aspects and the supply of cultural ecosystem services of diverse forms of UGS. This is realised by combining user demands with actual UGS features. In a concrete example, we assessed the UGS quality and supply for both the general population and the subset of elderly people. For the latter group, the activities of relaxing and observing nature, as well as the UGS feature of benches, were found to be significantly more important than for the general population. Nevertheless, this had only a minor impact on the assessed aspects of UGS quality and supply, with little differences detected between the two groups. In Dresden (Germany), we determined that almost half of the elderly population are not provided with high-quality UGS. In these areas, urban planning must increase the UGS quality while taking user demands into account to ensure just access to the positive benefits of UGS for the elderly.
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16
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Beyond the Backyard: GIS Analysis of Public Green Space Accessibility in Australian Metropolitan Areas. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14084694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
During times of stress and social pressure, urban green space provides social, cultural, and economic resources that help individuals and communities cope. Green space accessibility is, therefore, an important indicator related to people’s health and welfare. However, green space accessibility is not even throughout urban areas, with some areas better served with green space than others. Green space patterning is, therefore, a major environmental justice challenge. This research uses GIS approaches to analyze and understand urban green space access of urban communities in the Australian metropolitan areas of Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. We calculate indicators to describe green space access in relation to different green space patterns within different metropolitan zones, including the inner urban, suburban, and peri urban. We use the best available open data from the Australian census of 2017 to calculate green space accessibility. Our results describe the relationship between population density and green space distribution and patterning in the four metropolitan areas. We find that even cities which are generally thought of as liveable have considerable environmental justice challenges and inequity and must improve green space access to address environmental inequity. We also find that a range type of measures can be used to better understand green space accessibility. Accessibility varies greatly both within metropolitan areas and also from city to city. Through improving our understanding of the green space accessibility characteristics of Australian metropolitan areas, the result of this study supports the future planning of more just and equal green cities.
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17
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Literature Review Reveals a Global Access Inequity to Urban Green Spaces. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Differences in the accessibility to urban resources between different racial and socioeconomic groups have exerted pressure on effective planning and management for sustainable city development. However, few studies have examined the multiple factors that may influence the mitigation of urban green spaces (UGS) inequity. This study reports the results of a systematic mapping of access inequity research through correspondence analysis (CA) to reveal critical trends, knowledge gaps, and clusters based on a sample of 49 empirical studies screened from 563 selected papers. Our findings suggest that although the scale of cities with UGS access inequity varies between countries, large cities (more than 1,000,000 population), especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are particularly affected. Moreover, the number of cities in which high socioeconomic status (high-SES) groups (e.g., young, rich, or employed) are at an advantage concerning access to UGS is substantially higher than the number of cities showing better accessibility for low-SES groups. Across the reviewed papers, analyses on mitigating interventions are sparse, and among the few studies that touch upon this, we found different central issues in local mitigating strategies between high-income countries (HICs) and LMICs. An explanatory framework is offered, explaining the interaction between UGS access inequity and local mitigating measures.
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18
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Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. New urban models for more sustainable, liveable and healthier cities post covid19; reducing air pollution, noise and heat island effects and increasing green space and physical activity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106850. [PMID: 34531034 PMCID: PMC8457623 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cities are centres of innovation and wealth creation, but also hotspots of air pollution and noise, heat island effects and lack of green space, which are all detrimental to human health. They are also hotspots of COVID19. COVID19 has led to a rethink of urban public space. Therefore, is it time to re-think our urban models and reduce the health burden? We provide a narrative meta-review around a number of cutting edge and visionary urban models that that may affect health and that have been reported over the past few years. New urban concepts such as the Superblocks, the low traffic neighbourhood, 15 Minute city, Car free city or a mixture of these that may go some way in reducing the health burden related to current urban and transport practices. They will reduce air pollution and noise, heat island effects and increase green space and physical activity levels. What is still lacking though is a thorough evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of the schemes and the impacts on not only health, but also liveability and sustainability, although they are expected to be positive. Finally, the COVID19 pandemic may accelerate these developments and stimulus funding like the EU Next Generation funding should be used to make these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Melbourne, Australia.
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19
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Song Y, Chen B, Ho HC, Kwan MP, Liu D, Wang F, Wang J, Cai J, Li X, Xu Y, He Q, Wang H, Xu Q, Song Y. Observed inequality in urban greenspace exposure in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106778. [PMID: 34425646 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Given the important role of green environments playing in healthy cities, the inequality in urban greenspace exposure has aroused growing attentions. However, few comparative studies are available to quantify this phenomenon for cities with different population sizes across a country, especially for those in the developing world. Besides, commonly used inequality measures are always hindered by the conceptual simplification without accounting for human mobility in greenspace exposure assessments. To fill this knowledge gap, we leverage multi-source geospatial big data and a modified assessment framework to evaluate the inequality in urban greenspace exposure for 303 cities in China. Our findings reveal that the majority of Chinese cities are facing high inequality in greenspace exposure, with 207 cities having a Gini index larger than 0.6. Driven by the spatiotemporal variability of human distribution, the magnitude of inequality varies over different times of the day. We also find that exposure inequality is correlated with low greenspace provision with a statistical significance (p-value < 0.05). The inadequate provision may result from various factors, such as dry cold climate and urbanization patterns. Our study provides evidence and insights for central and local governments in China to implement more effective and sustainable greening programs adjusted to different local circumstances and incorporate the public participatory engagement to achieve a real balance between greenspace supply and demand for developing healthy cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimeng Song
- Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Smart Cities Research Institute, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Bin Chen
- Division of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Mei-Po Kwan
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Geography and Geographic Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, The University of Western Ontario, Social Sciences Centre, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada; Department of Geography and Environment, The University of Western Ontario, Social Sciences Centre, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jionghua Wang
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Jixuan Cai
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Xijing Li
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yong Xu
- School of Geographical Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qingqing He
- School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hongzhi Wang
- College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Henan, China
| | - Qiyan Xu
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Yongze Song
- School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, Perth 6845, Australia.
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20
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How to Perceive the Trade-Off of Economic and Ecological Intensity of Land Use in a City? A Functional Zones-Based Case Study of Tangshan, China. LAND 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/land10060551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
China, in a rapid urbanization process, is accompanied by the expansion of built-up land, population accumulation, and intensive land investment, while the improvement of the urban environment cannot keep up with the population and economic density growth. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the balance between urban land use economic intensity (built-up area density, population density, land price) and ecological intensity (the depth, breadth, and integration of ecological spaces) in Tangshan. From the perspective of functional zones (FZs), the trade-off of economic and ecological intensity of different types of land use is detailed from the evaluation system. Finally, this paper explores a common intensive development model for different FZs to reach both reasonable economic and ecological purposes in Tangshan. The upshot indicates that the economic and ecological intensity of all FZs in Tangshan follows an opposite spatial distribution, and different types of FZ own their characteristics. The Gini index and Theil index for measuring the typical FZ indicate the unbalanced state between ecological spaces and population in residential areas. To sum up, a resource-based city, such as Tangshan, in the rapid development stage of urbanization tends to pay more attention to economic output and neglect ecological benefits.
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21
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Shuvo FK, Mazumdar S, Labib SM. Walkability and Greenness Do Not Walk Together: Investigating Associations between Greenness and Walkability in a Large Metropolitan City Context. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094429. [PMID: 33919473 PMCID: PMC8122284 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The existing environment literature separately emphasizes the importance of neighborhood walkability and greenness in enhancing health and wellbeing. Thus, a desirable neighborhood should ideally be green and walkable at the same time. Yet, limited research exists on the prevalence of such "sweet spot" neighborhoods. We sought to investigate this question in the context of a large metropolitan city (i.e., Sydney) in Australia. METHODS Using suburb level normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), percentage urban greenspace, Walk Score® (Walk Score, Seattle, WA, USA), and other data, we explored the global and local relationships of neighborhood-level greenness, urban green space (percent park area) with walkability applying both non-spatial and spatial modeling. RESULTS We found an overall negative relationship between walkability and greenness (measured as NDVI). Most neighborhoods (represented by suburbs) in Sydney are either walkable or green, but not both. Sweet spot neighborhoods that did exist were green but only somewhat walkable. In addition, many neighborhoods were both less green and somewhat walkable. Moreover, we observed a significant positive relationship between percentage park area and walkability. These results indicate walkability and greenness have inverse and, at best, mixed associations in the Sydney metropolitan area. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicates an overall negative relationship between greenness and walkability, with significant local variability. With ongoing efforts towards greening Sydney and improving walkability, more neighborhoods may eventually be transformed into becoming greener and more walkable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faysal Kabir Shuvo
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Level 1 EW Building Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-47-894-2720
| | - Soumya Mazumdar
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales Medicine, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia;
- Population Health Intelligence, Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - S. M. Labib
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Centre for Diet and Activity Research, University of Cambridge, Clifford Allbutt Building, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK;
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Lukic R, Olstad DL, Doyle-Baker PK, Potestio ML, McCormack GR. Associations between neighbourhood street pattern, neighbourhood socioeconomic status and sleep in adults. Prev Med Rep 2021; 22:101345. [PMID: 33850695 PMCID: PMC8022243 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep duration is a risk factor for poor health and all-cause mortality. Evidence suggests that neighbourhood characteristics such as built environment and socioeconomic status (SES) may affect sleep duration in adults. This study examined the relationship between neighbourhood built environment (i.e., measured via the street pattern) and SES with sleep duration in adults (n = 797) from 12 neighbourhoods in Calgary (Canada). Covariate adjusted linear and multinomial logistic regression models estimated the associations between street pattern (grid, warped-grid, curvilinear), SES and sleep duration. We also tested if the interaction between street pattern and SES was associated with sleep duration. Although neighbourhood street pattern and neighbourhood SES were not independently associated with sleep, the interaction between street pattern and neighbourhood SES, was associated with mean sleep duration. Individuals living in curvilinear low SES neighbourhoods had the shortest sleep duration (6.93 h per day; 95% CI 6.68, 7.18), while those living in curvilinear high SES neighbourhoods slept the longest (7.43 h per day; 95% CI 7.29, 7.57). Neighbourhood street pattern and SES, as well as their interaction, were not associated with the odds of sleeping shorter or longer than 7 to 8 h per day. Our findings suggest that the combined effect of the neighbourhood built environment and SES is potentially important for influencing sleep duration. More research is needed to understand the complex interrelationships between the built environment, SES, and sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lukic
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - D L Olstad
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - P K Doyle-Baker
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada.,School of Planning, Architecture, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - M L Potestio
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - G R McCormack
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.,Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada.,School of Planning, Architecture, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Canada.,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Japan
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Rehling J, Bunge C, Waldhauer J, Conrad A. Socioeconomic Differences in Walking Time of Children and Adolescents to Public Green Spaces in Urban Areas-Results of the German Environmental Survey (2014-2017). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2326. [PMID: 33653001 PMCID: PMC7967674 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Public green spaces have a high potential for a positive impact on people's health and wellbeing, especially in urban areas. Studies on environmental justice indicate socially unequal access possibilities to urban green spaces. This article presents results on associations between individual socioeconomic position (SEP) and walking time from home to public green spaces in young people living in urban areas with more than 20,000 inhabitants in Germany. Data were derived from the German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents 2014-2017 (GerES V), the environmental module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Wave 2). The sample comprises 1149 participants aged 3 to 17 years. A total of 51.5% of the participants reach a public green space on foot within five and 72.8% within ten minutes from home. The lower the participant's SEP, the longer the walking time. Logistic regression models controlling for age group, sex, migration background, and region of residence show that participants with a low SEP have a significantly higher risk (odds ratio = 1.98; 95% confidence interval: 1.31-2.99) of needing more than ten minutes to walk from home to a public green space than participants with a high SEP. GerES V data indicate that young people living in urban areas in Germany do not equally benefit from the health-promoting potential of green spaces, which is an important aspect of environmental health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Rehling
- Department Environmental Hygiene, German Environment Agency, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (C.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Christiane Bunge
- Department Environmental Hygiene, German Environment Agency, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (C.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Julia Waldhauer
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101 Berlin, Germany;
| | - André Conrad
- Department Environmental Hygiene, German Environment Agency, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (C.B.); (A.C.)
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24
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Verheyen VJ, Remy S, Lambrechts N, Govarts E, Colles A, Poelmans L, Verachtert E, Lefebvre W, Monsieurs P, Vanpoucke C, Nielsen F, Van den Eeden L, Jacquemyn Y, Schoeters G. Residential exposure to air pollution and access to neighborhood greenspace in relation to hair cortisol concentrations during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Environ Health 2021; 20:11. [PMID: 33573648 PMCID: PMC7879652 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00697-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in studies worldwide, other studies have described beneficial effects of residential greenspace on pregnancy outcomes. The biological mechanisms that underlie these associations are incompletely understood. A biological stress response, which implies release of cortisol, may underlie associations of air pollution exposure and access to neighborhood greenspaces with health. METHODS We explored residential exposure to air pollution and residential access to neighborhood greenspaces in relation to hair cortisol concentrations of participants in a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Flanders, Belgium. Hair samples were collected at the end of the second pregnancy trimester (n = 133) and shortly after delivery (n = 81). Cortisol concentrations were measured in 3-cm scalp-near hair sections, to reflect second and third pregnancy trimester cortisol secretion. We estimated long-term (3 months before sampling) residential exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC), assessed residential distance to major roads and residential access to neighborhood greenspaces (NHGS). Associations between residential exposures and hair cortisol concentrations were studied using linear regression models while adjusting for season of sampling. RESULTS Three-month mean residential NO2 and BC concentrations were positively associated with third pregnancy trimester hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.008 and p = 0.017). Access to a large NHGS (10 ha or more within 800 m from residence) was negatively associated with third trimester hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.019). Access to a large NHGS significantly moderated the association between residential proximity to major roads and second trimester hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.021). Residential distance to major roads was negatively associated with second trimester hair cortisol concentrations of participants without access to a large NHGS (p = 0.003). The association was not significant for participants with access to a large NHGS. The moderation tended towards significance in the third pregnancy trimester (p < 0.10). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a positive association between long-term residential exposure to air pollution and biological stress during pregnancy, residential access to neighborhood greenspaces may moderate the association. Further research is needed to confirm our results. TRIAL REGISTRATION The IPANEMA study is registered under number NCT02592005 at clinicaltrials.gov .
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Josefa Verheyen
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Remy
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Eva Govarts
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ann Colles
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Lien Poelmans
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Els Verachtert
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Wouter Lefebvre
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Pieter Monsieurs
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Flemming Nielsen
- The Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lena Van den Eeden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- People and Health, Thomas More University College, Lier, Belgium
| | - Yves Jacquemyn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Global Health Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- The Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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25
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Unequal Appropriation of Urban Vegetation in Argentine Cities. Ecosystems 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-019-00476-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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26
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Using citizen science to understand the prerequisites for physical activity among adolescents in low socioeconomic status neighborhoods - The NESLA study. Health Place 2020; 65:102387. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Quantifying and explaining variation in life expectancy at census tract, county, and state levels in the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:17688-17694. [PMID: 32661145 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003719117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on geographic inequalities in life expectancy in the United States have exclusively focused on single-level analyses of aggregated data at state or county level. This study develops a multilevel perspective to understanding variation in life expectancy by simultaneously modeling the geographic variation at the levels of census tracts (CTs), counties, and states. We analyzed data from 65,662 CTs, nested within 3,020 counties and 48 states (plus District of Columbia). The dependent variable was age-specific life expectancy observed in each of the CTs. We also considered the following CT-level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics as independent variables: population density; proportions of population who are black, who are single parents, who are below the federal poverty line, and who are aged 25 or older who have a bachelor's degree or higher; and median household income. Of the total geographic variation in life expectancy at birth, 70.4% of the variation was attributed to CTs, followed by 19.0% for states and 10.7% for counties. The relative importance of CTs was greater for life expectancy at older ages (70.4 to 96.8%). The CT-level independent variables explained 5 to 76.6% of between-state variation, 11.1 to 58.6% of between-county variation, and 0.7 to 44.9% of between-CT variation in life expectancy across different age groups. Our findings indicate that population inequalities in longevity in the United States are primarily a local phenomenon. There is a need for greater precision and targeting of local geographies in public policy discourse aimed at reducing health inequalities in the United States.
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Khomenko S, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Ambròs A, Wegener S, Mueller N. Is a liveable city a healthy city? Health impacts of urban and transport planning in Vienna, Austria. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109238. [PMID: 32062485 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Each year, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) computes the Global Liveability Index and determines the most liveable cities around the world. Vienna, Austria, was ranked by the EIU as the most liveable city worldwide in 2018 and 2019. However, the relationship between a liveable as well as healthy and environmentally-just city has not been previously explored. To explore whether the most liveable city is also a healthy and environmentally-just one, we estimated the premature mortality burden related to non-compliance with international exposure level recommendations for physical activity (PA), air pollution (PM2.5 and NO2), road traffic noise, green space and heat for Vienna, as well as its distribution by socioeconomic status (SES). We applied the Urban and TranspOrt Planning Health Impact Assessment (UTOPHIA) methodology and estimated the annual mortality, life expectancy (LE) and economic impact of non-compliance with exposure guidelines for the Viennese adult population ≥ 20 years. We compared current with recommended exposure levels, quantified the association between exposures and mortality and calculated attributable health impact fractions. Eight percent of premature mortality (i.e. 1239 deaths, 95% CI: 679-1784) was estimated to be attributable to non-compliance with the recommended exposure levels. Seventy-six percent of the attributable premature mortality was due to PM2.5 exposure and insufficient PA. Non-compliance also resulted in an average of 199 days of LE lost for the adult population (95% CI: 111-280) and an economic impact of 4.6 (95% CI: 2.5-6.7) billion 2015€ annually. Overall, residents of lower SES neighbourhoods faced higher risk of premature mortality due to higher exposure to NO2, road traffic noise, heat and less green space. Despite high liveability standards according to EIU definition, a considerable premature mortality burden was attributable to non-compliance with exposure recommendations, and socioeconomic inequalities were estimated. Although the exposure attributable mortality burden was lower than in other European cities and local Viennese policies favour the reduction of motorized traffic, alongside the promotion of active and public transport and urban greening, there is room for further alignment of liveability, environmental health and justice objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Khomenko
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Albert Ambròs
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Wegener
- Institute for Transport Studies, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria
| | - Natalie Mueller
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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29
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Effect of pavement and water deficit on biomass allocation and whole-tree transpiration in two contrasting urban tree species. Urban Ecosyst 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-00953-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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30
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Liu L, Zhong Y, Ao S, Wu H. Exploring the Relevance of Green Space and Epidemic Diseases Based on Panel Data in China from 2007 to 2016. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E2551. [PMID: 31319532 PMCID: PMC6679052 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16142551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Urban green space has been proven effective in improving public health in the contemporary background of planetary urbanization. There is a growing body of literature investigating the relationship between non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and green space, whereas seldom has the correlation been explored between green space and epidemics, such as dysentery, tuberculosis, and malaria, which still threaten the worldwide situation of public health. Meanwhile, most studies explored healthy issues with the general green space, public green space, and green space coverage, respectively, among which the different relevance has been rarely explored. This study aimed to examine and compare the relevance between these three kinds of green space and incidences of the three types of epidemic diseases based on the Panel Data Model (PDM) with the time series data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2007 to 2016. The results indicated that there exists different, or even opposite, relevance between various kinds of green space and epidemic diseases, which might be associated with the process of urban sprawl in rapid urbanization in China. This paper provides a reference for re-thinking the indices of green space in building healthier and greener cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingbo Liu
- Department of Urban Planning, School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuni Zhong
- Department of Urban Planning, School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Siya Ao
- Department of Graphics and Digital Technology, School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Graphics and Digital Technology, School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Jacobs J, Alston L, Needham C, Backholer K, Strugnell C, Allender S, Nichols M. Variation in the physical activity environment according to area-level socio-economic position-A systematic review. Obes Rev 2019; 20:686-700. [PMID: 30624854 DOI: 10.1111/obr.12818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Physical inactivity is a major contributing factor to obesity, and both follow a socio-economic gradient. This systematic review aims to identify whether the physical activity environment varies by socio-economic position (SEP), which may contribute to socio-economic patterning of physical activity behaviours, and in turn, obesity levels. Six databases were searched. Studies were included if they compared an objectively measured aspect of the physical activity environment between areas of differing SEP in a high-income country. Two independent reviewers screened all papers. Results were classified according to the physical activity environment analysed: walkability/bikeability, green space, and recreational facilities. Fifty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. A greater number of positive compared with negative associations were found between SEP and green space, whereas there were marginally more negative than positive associations between SEP and walkability/bikeability and recreational facilities. A high number of mixed and null results were found across all categories. With a high number of mixed and null results, clear socio-economic patterning in the presence of physical activity environments in high-income countries was not evident in this systematic review. Heterogeneity across studies in the measures used for both SEP and physical activity environments may have contributed to this result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Jacobs
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura Alston
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Cindy Needham
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Claudia Strugnell
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steven Allender
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melanie Nichols
- Global Obesity Centre, Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Social Inequalities in Environmental Resources of Green and Blue Spaces: A Review of Evidence in the WHO European Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16071216. [PMID: 30987381 PMCID: PMC6480666 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16071216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Residential green and blue spaces and their potential health benefits have received increasing attention in the context of environmental health inequalities, because an unequal social distribution of these resources may contribute to inequalities in health outcomes. This systematic review synthesised evidence of environmental inequalities, focusing on availability and accessibility measures of green and blue spaces. Studies in the World Health Organisation (WHO) European Region published between 2010 and 2017 were considered for the review. In total, 14 studies were identified, where most of them (n = 12) analysed inequalities of green spaces. The majority had an ecological study design that mostly applied deprivation indices on the small area level, whereas cross-sectional studies on the individual level mostly applied single social measures. Ecological studies consistently showed that deprived areas had lower green space availability than more affluent areas, whereas mixed associations were found for single social dimensions in cross-sectional studies on the individual level. In order to gain more insights into how various social dimensions are linked to the distribution of environmental resources within the WHO European Region, more studies are needed that apply comparable methods and study designs for analysing social inequalities in environmental resources.
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Wang XM, Wang XK, Su YB, Zhang HX. Land pavement depresses photosynthesis in urban trees especially under drought stress. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 653:120-130. [PMID: 30408660 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Investigations into the photosynthetic response of urban trees on paved land under drought stress would help to improve the management of trees under rapid urbanization and climate change. An experiment was designed to grow two common greening tree saplings, ash (Fraxinus chinensis Roxb.) and ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.), in environments of both land pavement and drought. The results showed that (1) land pavement increased surface and air temperatures and decreased air humidity as well as net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and photosynthetic capacity (Amax) of ginkgo significantly; (2) drought significantly decreased Pn, Amax and maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pnmax) as well as other photosynthetic parameters of both ash and ginkgo; (3) the negative effects of the combination of land pavement and drought on photosynthetic parameters were more significant than the effects of drought treatment for both ash and ginkgo. This implies that urban trees, especially those growing on land pavements, will confront harsher environments and a greater decline of photosynthesis under the severe and more frequent droughts predicted in the future. Overall, ash showed more tolerance to land pavement and drought than ginkgo, indicating that the selection of tolerant tree species is important for urban planting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu-Ming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Ke Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Beijing Urban Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Yue-Bo Su
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong-Xing Zhang
- Beijing Urban Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
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Mueller N, Rojas-Rueda D, Khreis H, Cirach M, Milà C, Espinosa A, Foraster M, McEachan RRC, Kelly B, Wright J, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Socioeconomic inequalities in urban and transport planning related exposures and mortality: A health impact assessment study for Bradford, UK. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:931-941. [PMID: 30347375 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cities have unique geographic, environmental and sociocultural characteristics that influence the health status of their citizens. Identification and modification of these characteristics may help to promote healthier cities. OBJECTIVE We estimated premature mortality impacts of breaching international exposure guidelines for physical activity (PA), air pollution, noise and access to green space for Bradford (UK) adult residents (n = 393,091). METHODS We applied the Urban and TranspOrt Planning Health Impact Assessment (UTOPHIA) methodology and estimated mortality, life expectancy (LE) and economic impacts of non-compliance with recommended exposure levels. We also investigated the distribution of the mortality burden among the population, focusing on socioeconomic position (SEP) as defined by deprivation status and ethnicity. RESULTS We estimated that annually almost 10% of premature mortality (i.e. 375 deaths, 95% CI: 276-474) in Bradford is attributable to non-compliance with recommended exposure levels. Non-compliance was also estimated to result in over 300 days of LE lost (95% CI: 238-432), which translated in economic losses of over £50,000 per person (95% CI: 38,518-69,991). 90% of the premature mortality impact resulted from insufficient PA performance. Air and noise pollution and the lack of green space had smaller impacts (i.e. 48 deaths). Residents of lower SEP neighborhoods had the highest risks for adverse exposure and premature death. A larger number of deaths (i.e. 253 and 145, respectively) could be prevented by reducing air and noise pollution levels well below the guidelines. DISCUSSION Current urban and transport planning related exposures result in a considerable health burden that is unequally distributed among the Bradford population. Improvements in urban and transport planning practices including the reduction of motor traffic and the promotion of active transport together with greening of the district, particularly in areas of lower SEP, are promising strategies to increase PA performance and reduce harmful environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Mueller
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Rojas-Rueda
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Haneen Khreis
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), College Station, TX, USA
| | - Marta Cirach
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Milà
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Espinosa
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llul, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Brian Kelly
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
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Awuah KT, Nölke N, Freudenberg M, Diwakara B, Tewari V, Kleinn C. Spatial resolution and landscape structure along an urban-rural gradient: Do they relate to remote sensing classification accuracy? – A case study in the megacity of Bengaluru, India. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rsase.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Shrestha R, Flacke J, Martinez J, van Maarseveen M. Interactive Cumulative Burden Assessment: Engaging Stakeholders in an Adaptive, Participatory and Transdisciplinary Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15020260. [PMID: 29401676 PMCID: PMC5858329 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15020260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cumulative burden assessment (CuBA) has the potential to inform planning and decision-making on health disparities related to multiple environmental burdens. However, scholars have raised concerns about the social complexity to be dealt with while conducting CuBA, suggesting that it should be addressed in an adaptive, participatory and transdisciplinary (APT) approach. APT calls for deliberation among stakeholders by engaging them in a process of social learning and knowledge co-production. We propose an interactive stakeholder-based approach that facilitates a science-based stakeholder dialogue as an interface for combining different knowledge domains and engendering social learning in CuBA processes. Our approach allows participants to interact with each other using a flexible and auditable CuBA model implemented within a shared workspace. In two workshops we explored the usefulness and practicality of the approach. Results show that stakeholders were enabled to deliberate on cumulative burdens collaboratively, to learn about the technical uncertainties and social challenges associated with CuBA, and to co-produce knowledge in a realm of both technical and societal challenges. The paper identifies potential benefits relevant for responding to social complexity in the CuBA and further recommends exploration of how our approach can enable or constraint social learning and knowledge co-production in CuBA processes under various institutional, social and political contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehana Shrestha
- Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Johannes Flacke
- Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Javier Martinez
- Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Martin van Maarseveen
- Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
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Preventive Effect of Residential Green Space on Infantile Atopic Dermatitis Associated with Prenatal Air Pollution Exposure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15010102. [PMID: 29315266 PMCID: PMC5800201 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Few birth cohort studies have examined the role of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in the development of infantile atopic dermatitis (AD), but none have investigated the role of preventive factors such as green spaces. The aim of this study was to investigate whether exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM10) during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of development of AD in 6-month-old children and also to examine how this association changes with residential green space. This study used prospective data from 659 participants of the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health study. Subjects were geocoded to their residential addresses and matched with air pollution data modeled using land-use regression. Information on infantile AD was obtained by using a questionnaire administered to the parents or guardians of the children. The association between infantile AD and exposure to NO₂ and PM10 was determined using logistic regression models. We assessed the effects of residential green spaces using stratified analyses and by entering product terms into the logistic regression models. The risk of infantile AD significantly increased with an increase in air pollution exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.219 (1.023-1.452) per 10 μg/m³ increase in PM10 and 1.353 (1.027-1.782) per 10 ppb increase in NO₂. An increase in the green space within 200 m of residence was associated with a decreased risk of AD (OR = 0.996, 95% CI: 0.993-0.999). The stratified analysis of residential green space revealed stronger associations between infantile AD and PM10 and NO₂ exposure during the first trimester in the areas in the lower tertiles of green space. This study indicated that exposure to TRAP during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with infantile AD. Less residential green space may intensify the association between TRAP exposure and infantile AD.
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