Green Environments and Allergic Diseases in Children: a Scoping Review

Abstract

Urbanization and urbanization-related detrimental exposures are commonly indicated as responsible determinants for the dramatic increase in allergy and asthma, and one of the main urbanization factors that have been recently associated with the development of allergic sensitization is the reduced access to natural and biodiverse spaces. The present review aimed to compile and discuss the recent findings from studies focused on neighbourhood greenspace effect on asthma and allergic disease development in children. Green areas neighbouring children residences play a role on the prevalence of allergy and asthma. However, whether greenness is a protective factor, or an exacerbation driver, is yet to be elucidated. This may be due to the confounding factors associated with greenspace exposure, such as vegetation biodiversity, environmental microbiome, human behaviour, or the region itself. It is not possible to concretely discern the importance of early life exposure to green areas on asthma and allergy development. More studies on determinant factors associated with green areas, such as biodiversity or environmental microbiome, may help to elucidate these associations.