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Roche IV, Ubalde-Lopez M, Daher C, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Gascon M. The Health-Related and Learning Performance Effects of Air Pollution and Other Urban-Related Environmental Factors on School-Age Children and Adolescents-A Scoping Review of Systematic Reviews. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:300-316. [PMID: 38369581 PMCID: PMC11082043 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00431-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This scoping review aims to assess the impact of air pollution, traffic noise, heat, and green and blue space exposures on the physical and cognitive development of school-age children and adolescents. While existing evidence indicates adverse effects of transport-related exposures on their health, a comprehensive scoping review is necessary to consolidate findings on various urban environmental exposures' effects on children's development. RECENT FINDINGS There is consistent evidence on how air pollution negatively affects children's cognitive and respiratory health and learning performance, increasing their susceptibility to diseases in their adult life. Scientific evidence on heat and traffic noise, while less researched, indicates that they negatively affect children's health. On the contrary, green space exposure seems to benefit or mitigate these adverse effects, suggesting a potential strategy to promote children's cognitive and physical development in urban settings. This review underscores the substantial impact of urban exposures on the physical and mental development of children and adolescents. It highlights adverse health effects that can extend into adulthood, affecting academic opportunities and well-being beyond health. While acknowledging the necessity for more research on the mechanisms of air pollution effects and associations with heat and noise exposure, the review advocates prioritizing policy changes and urban planning interventions. This includes minimizing air pollution and traffic noise while enhancing urban vegetation, particularly in school environments, to ensure the healthy development of children and promote lifelong health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Valls Roche
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mònica Ubalde-Lopez
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolyn Daher
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mireia Gascon
- ISGlobal, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona-PRBB, C/ Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Xu Y, Wheeler SA, Zuo A. The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Participation and Physical Activities in Parks: A Systematic Review of the Literature. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12590. [PMID: 36231890 PMCID: PMC9566024 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912590] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although a variety of interventions in many countries have been developed to increase park use and to improve public participation in physical activities in parks, knowledge of their overall effectiveness is lacking. A systematic literature review was undertaken to further understand the effectiveness of various interventions that aim to increase the use of parks and physical activity participation in parks. This systematic review utilized the standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis procedure, and of the 3801 studies identified, 60 studies were reviewed in-depth, with 44 studies assessed for quality of evidence and risk of bias. Most of the 44 reviewed studies found that various interventions had positive impacts on park use and physical activity participation in parks. Interventions were classified into both demand and supply, with more studies focusing on the supply side. The strongest evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions was found for park prescriptions; safe access to parks; playgrounds, and park renovation and renewal/design. However, the assessment of quality of evidence and risk of bias showed that most studies suffer from potential biases and evidence weaknesses, suggesting a need to further establish external validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xu
- School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Sarah Ann Wheeler
- School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Alec Zuo
- School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- The Centre for Global Food and Resources, School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
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Residential Characteristics as Factors Related to Healthy Behavior Practices-Decision Tree Model Analysis Using a Community Health Survey from Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127390. [PMID: 35742638 PMCID: PMC9223632 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we sought to identify relevant factors in healthy behavior practices, including not only individual-level variables but also regional and physical environments. Data from the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) of Gyeongsangnam-do in 2018 were used, with data from 16,519 of the 17,947 individuals (excluding 1428 individuals who had missing values) who participated in the survey. Healthy behavior practices were defined as meeting the criteria for all three modifiable healthy behaviors (non-smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular walking). A decision tree analysis was performed. In men, healthy behavior practices were lower in the unemployed population, in those aged 40−50 years, living in rural residential areas, and with stress. For women who lived in areas with small populations (<100,000 population), healthy behavior practices were below-average. Men and women who had below-average healthy behavior practices reported poor access to places for exercise and fair or poor self-rated health statuses. It is necessary to implement a health behavior practice intervention that considers not only individual characteristics but also access to local exercise facilities and residential area characteristics (urban, rural). Since age is an important variable in healthy behaviors for both men and women, customized programs that consider age should be provided.
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The Effects of Park Based Interventions on Health: The Italian Project "Moving Parks". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042130. [PMID: 35206319 PMCID: PMC8872154 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Obesity and physical inactivity are global health problems responsible for the risk increment of noncommunicable diseases. To overcome these problems, interventions aimed at increasing physical activity (PA) are necessary. Green space can have a positive influence on promoting PA, so, the aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the project “The moving parks project”, which provides for the administration of PA to citizens within Bologna’s parks (Italy). An ad hoc questionnaire was administered before and after three months of outdoor PA. A total of 329 adult subjects participated in the survey. At follow-up, all psychosocial parameters showed an improvement, with a reduction in the state of tension, sadness and fatigue, and an improvement in the state of energy, serenity, and vitality. The impact of the interventions carried out in the “Moving Parks project” was positive and appears to be a good strategy for improving health outcomes.
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Derose KP, Wallace DD, Han B, Cohen DA. Effects of park-based interventions on health-related outcomes: A systematic review. Prev Med 2021; 147:106528. [PMID: 33745954 PMCID: PMC8096710 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Increasing use of parks for physical activity has been proposed for improving population health, including mental health. Interventions that aim to increase park use and park-based physical activity include place-based interventions (e.g., park renovations) and person-based interventions (e.g., park-based walking or exercise classes). Using adapted methods from the Community Guide, a systematic review (search period through September 2019) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of park-based interventions among adults. The primary outcomes of interest were health-related, including physical and mental health and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Twenty-seven studies that met review criteria were analyzed in 2019 and 2020. Seven person-based studies included generally small samples of specific populations and interventions involved mostly exercise programming in parks; all but one had an average quality rating as "high" and all had at least one statistically significant outcome. Of the 20 place-based interventions, 7 involved only 1 or 2 parks; however, 7 involved from 9 to 78 parks. Types of interventions were predominantly park renovations; only 5 involved park-based exercise programming. Most of the renovations were associated with increased park-level use and physical activity, however among those implementing programming, park-level effects were more modest. Less than half of the place-based intervention studies had an average quality rating of "high." The study of parks as sites for physical activity interventions is nascent. Hybrid methods that combine placed-based evaluations and cohort studies could inform how to best optimize policy, programming, design and management to promote health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn P Derose
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States.
| | - Deshira D Wallace
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States.
| | - Bing Han
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States.
| | - Deborah A Cohen
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States.
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Otero Peña JE, Kodali H, Ferris E, Wyka K, Low S, Evenson KR, Dorn JM, Thorpe LE, Huang TTK. The Role of the Physical and Social Environment in Observed and Self-Reported Park Use in Low-Income Neighborhoods in New York City. Front Public Health 2021; 9:656988. [PMID: 33959584 PMCID: PMC8095666 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.656988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical and social environments of parks and neighborhoods influence park use, but the extent of their relative influence remains unclear. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between the physical and social environment of parks and both observed and self-reported park use in low-income neighborhoods in New York City. We conducted community- (n = 54 parks) and individual-level (n = 904 residents) analyses. At the community level, observed park use was measured using a validated park audit tool and regressed on the number of facilities and programmed activities in parks, violent crime, stop-and-frisk incidents, and traffic accidents. At the individual level, self-reported park use was regressed on perceived park quality, crime, traffic-related walkability, park use by others, and social cohesion and trust. Data were collected in 2016–2018 and analyzed in 2019–2020. At the community level, observed park use was negatively associated with stop-and-frisk (β = −0.04; SE = 0.02; p < 0.05) and positively associated with the number of park facilities (β = 1.46; SE = 0.57; p < 0.05) and events (β = 0.16; SE = 0.16; p < 0.01). At the individual level, self-reported park use was positively associated with the social cohesion and trust scale (β = 0.02; SE = 0.01; p < 0.05). These results indicate that physical and social attributes of parks, but not perceptions of parks, were significantly associated with park use. The social environment of neighborhoods at both community and individual levels was significantly related to park use. Policies for increasing park use should focus on improving the social environment of parks and surrounding communities, not only parks' physical attributes. These findings can inform urban planning and public health interventions aimed at improving the well-being of residents in low-income communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier E Otero Peña
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States.,Center for Systems and Community Design, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hanish Kodali
- Center for Systems and Community Design, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Emily Ferris
- Center for Systems and Community Design, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Katarzyna Wyka
- Center for Systems and Community Design, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Setha Low
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kelly R Evenson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Joan M Dorn
- Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lorna E Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Terry T K Huang
- Center for Systems and Community Design, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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