Residential Green Space Research Articles

Multiple pathways mediate the residential greenspace morphology and triglyceride risk: implications for climate change

Multiple pathways mediate the residential greenspace morphology and triglyceride risk: implications for climate change

A longitudinal analysis of residential greenspace and anxiety symptoms among a cohort Australian women living in cities

A longitudinal analysis of residential greenspace and anxiety symptoms among a cohort Australian women living in cities

Differences in particulate matter retention and leaf microstructures of 10 plants in different urban environments in Lanzhou City.

Particulate matter (PM) is a major primary environmental air pollutant and poses a threat to human health. Differences in the environment and leaf microstructures of plants will result in varying abilities to retain PM, but the effects of changes in these factors on PM retention are not yet well understood. This study selected 10 plant species in four urban areas (sports field, park, residential green space, and greenway) as the study objects. The amount of retained PM by the different species was measured, and the leaf microstructures were observed. It was found that the environment significantly affected both PM retention and leaf microstructure. The ranking of PM retention in the 10 species in four areas was greenway > residential green space > park > sports field. The ranking of average stomatal width and length was park > sports field > residential green space > greenway, while that of average stomatal density was greenway > residential green space > park > sports field. Different environments affected the length and density of trichomes in the leaves. These changes represented the adaptation of plant species to the growth environment. The stomata and grooves of the leaf surface significantly affected the ability of plants to retain PM. The amount of PM retained by different species varied. In all four urban areas, Prunus × cistena N. E. Hansen ex Koehne (purple leaf sand cherry), Prunus cerasifera Ehrhart f. atropurpurea (Jacq.) Rehd. (cherry plum), Buxus sinica var. parvifolia M. Cheng (common boxwood), and Ligustrum × vicaryi Rehder (golden privet) showed strong PM retention. The results of this study will provide information for planners and urban managers for the selection of plant species.

Multi-scenario simulation of spatial structure and carbon sequestration evaluation in residential green space

As an important component of urban green space, residential green space is crucial in improving the carbon sequestration performance of urban ecosystem. At present, there is a lack of spatial analysis on the carbon sequestration performance of residential green space. Taking the main urban area of Nanjing as an example, the study firstly adopted ENVI-met, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and net primary productivity (NPP) remote sensing estimation model to calculate the carbon sequestration performance of residential green space, and then carried out the coupling analysis on the results with the spatial characteristics of green space. Results showed that the residential green space with scattered layout present higher carbon sequestration performance; the ratio of trees and shrubs was the most critical factor affecting the carbon sequestration performance of residential green space; a suitable microclimate environment was a prerequisite to ensure high carbon sequestration performance of green space. The study revealed the spatial characteristics of residential green space that affected carbon sequestration performance, and provided a new method to calculate carbon sequestration performance of green space at microclimate scales, which pointed out a new direction for future sustainable urban development.

Residential green and blue spaces with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease incidence: Mediating effect of air pollutants

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationship of residential green and blue spaces with incident nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and explore the potential mediation effects of air pollutants and modification effect of genetic susceptibility. Methods411,200 UK Biobank participants without prior liver diseases were included. Land use data were used to estimate residential green and blue spaces (land coverage percentage) at 300 m and 1000 m buffer. The study outcome was incident NAFLD, ascertained through linkage to hospital admissions and death registry records. Results5198 NAFLD cases were documented after a median follow-up of 12.5 years. Green and blue spaces were inversely associated with the hazard of NAFLD: per standard deviation (SD) increment of green space coverage at 300 m (SD: 14.5 %; HR, 0.88, 95 %CI, 0.86–0.91) and 1000 m (SD: 14.1 %; HR, 0.88, 95 %CI, 0.86–0.91) buffer, and blue space coverage at 300 m (SD: 1.0 %; HR,0.95, 95 %CI, 0.93–0.98) and 1000 m (SD: 1.2 %; HR,0.96, 95 %CI, 0.93–0.99) buffer were related with a 4–12 % reduction of NAFLD incidence. The beneficial effects of approximately 25–52 % of green space exposure and about 5–35 % of blue space exposure on NAFLD incidence were mediated by the reduction of PM2.5, NO2 and NOx (All Pindirect effect <0.05). Moreover, genetic susceptibility of NAFLD did not modify the relationship of green and blue spaces with NAFLD incidence. ConclusionResidential green and blue spaces were inversely related to NAFLD incidence. These results suggest that green and blue spaces are modifiable factors that may help prevent NAFLD, and therefore, can be considered as a novel environmental strategy to promote liver health at the community level, rather than only at the individual level.

Ensuring the quality of atmospheric air on main streets and in residential buildings by means of planning and landscaping

Introduction. The level of concentration of toxic substances in the atmospheric air of main streets is largely determined by their aeration regime, established due to exposure to air flow of buildings and green spaces. Therefore, when developing master plans of cities and projects of detailed planning of residential formations to ensure hygienic standards for the expected content of emissions of motor transport in the air of transport communications and adjacent residential buildings, the influence of urban factors on wind speed and direction one should take into account.&#x0D; The aim of the study is the justification and selection of urban planning measures to reduce atmospheric air pollution from main roads and streets by exhaust gases of motor transport.&#x0D; Material and methods. Full-scale surveys of transport infrastructure facilities in large cities and modelling of the processes of dispersion of exhaust gases of cars in the air using models of residential buildings and green spaces.&#x0D; Results. The regularities of the formation of the aeration regime of city streets and the dispersion of car emissions behind the landscaping strips and in residential buildings have been established. Optimal variants of planning, development and landscaping of main streets have been determined, ensuring the reduction of gas contamination of pedestrian zones, public spaces and residential areas.&#x0D; Limitations. The choice of landscaping objects for urban roads and streets for field observations and modelling of car emissions dispersion processes is limited to strips of green spaces of a blown and dense construction, without taking into account the peculiarities of the transformation of the air flow and reducing gas pollution under the influence of landscaping strips of an openwork design.&#x0D; Conclusions. Reduction of gas pollution of main roads and streets is ensured by choosing the direction of the route and planning, and building techniques. At the same time, it is necessary to use environmental protection linear-strip landscaping facilities of optimal design. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that frontal multi-sectional buildings and strips of green spaces of windproof dense construction stimulate the appearance of stable vortices with a closed circulation of impurities in street canyons and on sections of highways. When choosing urban planning solutions to ensure the quality of atmospheric air of transport communications and adjacent residential buildings in various landscape and climatic conditions, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the tasks arising in this case to regulate the aeration regime and reclamation of the microclimate as a whole.

Residential greenspace counteracts PM2.5 on the risks of preterm birth subtypes: A multicenter study

BackgroundThe association between residential greenspace and preterm birth (PTB) risk remained inconclusive. The PTB subtypes have been ignored and the effect of co-exposure of PM2.5 on PTB risk is still unclear. ObjectiveTo investigate the independent, interactive, and mixed effects of residential greenspace and PM2.5 on the risk of PTB subtypes. MethodsA total of 19,900 singleton births from 20 hospitals in Shanghai, China, from 2015 to 2017 were included. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 500 m and 1000 m buffers of the maternal residence and a combined geoscience-statistical model-derived PM2.5 and its six components were used as the exposure measures. PTB (<37 completed weeks of gestation) were divided into early PTB (24–33 weeks) vs. late PTB (34–36 weeks) and into spontaneous PTB (sPTB), preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes (PPROM), and iatrogenic PTB. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to assess the independent and interactive effects of NDVI and PM2.5 on PTB in each trimester. The quantile g-computation approach was employed to explore the mixture effect of PM2.5 components and greenspace across the pregnancy and to determine the main contributors. ResultsLevels of PM2.5 and greenspace were associated with increased [aOR (95%CI) ranging from 1.18 (1.07, 1.30) to 3.36 (2.45, 4.64)] and decreased risks [aORs (95%CI) ranging from 0.64 (0.53, 0.78) to 0.86 (0.73, 0.99)] of PTB subtypes, respectively. At the same PM2.5 level, higher residential greenspace was associated with lower risks, and vice versa. All these associations were more pronounced in late pregnancy. Early PTB and PPROM were the main affected subtypes, and the main drivers in PM2.5 were black carbon and ammonium. ConclusionsResidential greenspace may mitigate the PTB risks due to PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy.

Residential greenspace and anxiety symptoms among Australian women living in major cities: A longitudinal analysis

Despite an increasing number of studies demonstrating the potential mental health benefits of greenspace, few longitudinal studies have been reported. We aimed to assess associations between two metrics of residential greenspace exposure and anxiety symptoms in a cohort of Australian women living in major cities.Our study comprised 3,938 women, born between 1973 and 78. Anxiety symptoms in the previous month were assessed at follow-up every three years during 2003–2018, using the anxiety subscale of the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale. The three-month seasonal average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was estimated from 30 m Landsat satellite images in a 500 m buffer (NDVI500m) around participants’ address at each survey (higher NDVI indicates more green vegetation). The annual fractional cover of non-photosynthesising vegetation was estimated (fNPV500m, with higher values indicating greater levels of dead leaf litter or dry grass).A generalised estimating equation assessed associations between greenspace measures and anxiety symptoms (as odds ratios [ORs]), adjusting for repeated outcomes and individual-level covariates. Additional analyses focused on women experiencing substantial changes in between-survey exposure due to moving, and adjusting for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure, among others.A standard deviation (SD) (0.12 units) increase in NDVI500m was significantly associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99) in the adjusted model. An SD (5.2%) increase in annual fNPV500m was consistent with the direction expected for that exposure, but not significant in the adjusted model (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.99–1.07). NDVI500m was modestly attenuated when air pollutants were adjusted for, while fNPV500m only became significant when PM2.5 was adjusted for. Between-survey contrasts had no clear effect for NDVI500m. Moving to a higher fNPV500m area, compared with a similar fNPV500m area, was consistently associated with anxiety symptoms (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.02–1.31). NDVI500m was generally associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms, while fNPV500m was generally associated with higher odds of anxiety, depending on the covariates considered.

Various ambient air pollutants, residential green spaces, fibrosis 4 scores, genetic susceptibility, and risk of severe liver disease

BackgroundThe relationship of air pollutants and residential exposure to greenspace with severe liver disease remains inconclusive. ObjectiveOur objective was to assess the relationship of joint exposure to air pollutants, residential exposure to greenspaces with new-onset severe liver disease. MethodsWe included 427,697 participants without prior liver diseases from UK Biobank. A weighted air pollution score was calculated based on PM2.5, PM10, PM2.5–10, NO2, and NOX. The percentage of land coverage by residential greenspaces was estimated using land use data. The primary outcome was new-onset severe liver disease, defined as a composite outcome including hospitalization or death due to compensated or decompensated liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 4572 participants developed severe liver disease. A higher air pollution score was significantly associated with an increased risk of new-onset severe liver disease (per SD increment; adjusted hazard ratio [HR],1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.04–1.10). Moreover, residential greenspace coverage was inversely associated with new-onset severe liver disease (per SD increment; adjusted HR, 0.95; 95% CI,0.92–0.98). Genetic risks of liver cirrhosis did not significantly modify the associations (both P-interactions >0.05). However, we observed a stronger positive association between air pollution scores and new-onset severe liver disease in individuals with higher fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores, lower residential greenspaces, hypertension, and smokers (all P-interactions <0.05). Similarly, a more pronounced inverse association between residential exposure to greenspaces and new-onset severe liver disease was found in smokers and individuals with higher FIB-4 scores (both P-interactions<0.05). ConclusionsOur findings suggest a positive association between air pollution scores and the risk of new-onset severe liver disease, while residential greenspaces show an inverse association. These results underscore the importance of maintaining high exposure to green space and reducing air pollution to prevent serious liver disease.

Greening residential quarters in China: What are the roles of urban form, socioeconomic factors, and biophysical context?

Residential greenspace has great intracity variations. Its driving factors have been widely investigated in Western countries (e.g., in Europe and North America), where residential areas are mostly privately owned, but few studies have examined the determinants of residential greenspace in China, where land is owned by the government. Taking the subtropical city of Changsha, China, as an example, this study mapped the percent green cover (PGC) in residential quarters with a fine-resolution satellite image. We also investigated its driving factors measured from multisource geospatial data. The results show that (1) the PGC in the residential quarters showed great spatial variation, with an average of 36.6% (0–85.7%) and a standard deviation of 18.3%. (2) Urban form, biophysical context, and socioeconomic factors together explained 49.18% of the variation in the PGC, and they independently explained 22.87%, 11.17%, and 2.31% of the variation, respectively. (3) Residential quarter size, PGC in the surrounding buffer zone, residential quarter age, housing value, and population density significantly and positively impact the PGC, while percent building cover, floor area ratio, and distance to city center had significant negative impacts. The strongest positive and negative impacts came from PGC in the surrounding buffer zone and percent building cover, respectively. Socioeconomic factors, the dominant driving factors in Western countries, show little impact on residential PGC. These findings expand our understanding of the intracity variation in greenspace coverage and the driving factors, which sheds light on the effective planning and management of urban greenspaces in China.

Awakening the sleeping giant of urban green in times of crisis-coverage, co-creation and practical guidelines for optimizing biodiversity-friendly and health-promoting residential greenery.

As multiple crises deepen existing inequalities in urban societies within and between neighborhoods, strategically integrating nature-based solutions into the living environment can help reduce negative impacts and improve public health, social cohesion, and well-being. Compared to public green such as parks, semi-public residential greenery is rarely studied, is regularly overlooked by planners, and often receives step-motherly treatment from architects and housing companies. We approximated the area of residential greenery of modernist multi-story apartment complexes in Berlin, Germany. We surveyed residents' suggestions for improving their living environments in vulnerable neighborhoods, report on co-creation experiences, and provide a practical guideline for optimizing health-promoting residential green spaces. The semi-public open space on the doorstep of two-thirds of Berlin's population is highly fragmented and, in total, has a similar area as the public green spaces and a great potential for qualitative development. Just as the suitability of different nature-based solutions to be integrated into the residential greenery depends on building types, resident demands differ between neighborhoods. Residents called for more involvement in design, implementation, and maintenance, frequently proposing that biodiversity-friendly measures be included. As there is no universal solution even for neighborhoods sharing similar structural and socioeconomic parameters, we propose, and have tested, an optimization loop for health-promoting residential greening that involves exploring residents' needs and co-creating local solutions for urban regeneration processes that can be initiated by different actors using bottom-up and/or top-down approaches in order to unlock this potential for healthy, livable and biodiversity friendly cities.

Residential greenspace and lung function decline over 20 years in a prospective cohort: The ECRHS study

BackgroundThe few studies that have examined associations between greenspace and lung function in adulthood have yielded conflicting results and none have examined whether the rate of lung function decline is affected. ObjectiveWe explored the association between residential greenspace and change in lung function over 20 years in 5559 adults from 22 centers in 11 countries participating in the population-based, international European Community Respiratory Health Survey. MethodsForced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured by spirometry when participants were approximately 35 (1990–1994), 44 (1999–2003), and 55 (2010–2014) years old. Greenness was assessed as the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in 500 m, 300 m, and 100 m circular buffers around the residential addresses at the time of lung function measurement. Green spaces were defined as the presence of agricultural, natural, or urban green spaces in a circular 300 m buffer. Associations of these greenspace parameters with the rate of lung function change were assessed using adjusted linear mixed effects regression models with random intercepts for subjects nested within centers. Sensitivity analyses considered air pollution exposures. ResultsA 0.2-increase (average interquartile range) in NDVI in the 500 m buffer was consistently associated with a faster decline in FVC (−1.25 mL/year [95% confidence interval: −2.18 to −0.33]). These associations were especially pronounced in females and those living in areas with low PM10 levels. We found no consistent associations with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Residing near forests or urban green spaces was associated with a faster decline in FEV1, while agricultural land and forests were related to a greater decline in FVC. ConclusionsMore residential greenspace was not associated with better lung function in middle-aged European adults. Instead, we observed slight but consistent declines in lung function parameters. The potentially detrimental association requires verification in future studies.

Associations between residential greenspace exposure and mortality in 4 645 581 adults living in London, UK: a longitudinal study

Urban greenspaces could reduce non-communicable disease (NCD) risk. The links between greenspaces and NCD-related mortality remain unclear. We aimed to estimate associations between residential greenspace quantity and access and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer mortality, respiratory mortality, and type 2 diabetes mortality. We linked 2011 UK Census data of London-dwelling adults (aged ≥18 years) to data from the UK death registry and the Greenspace Information for Greater London resource. We calculated percentage greenspace area, access point density (access points per km2), and distance in metres to the nearest access point for each respondent's residential neighbourhood (defined as 1000 m street network buffers) for greenspaces overall and by park type using a geographic information system. We estimated associations using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for a range of confounders. Data were available for 4 645 581 individuals between March 27, 2011, and Dec 31, 2019. Respondents were followed up for a mean of 8·4 years (SD 1·4). All-cause mortality did not differ with overall greenspace coverage (hazard ratio [HR] 1·0004, 95% CI 0·9996-1·0012), increased with increasing access point density (1·0076, 1·0031-1·0120), and decreased slightly with increasing distance to the nearest access point (HR 0·9993, 0·9987-0·9998). A 1 percentage point (pp) increase in pocket park (areas for rest and recreation under 0·4 hectares) coverage was associated with a decrease in all-cause mortality risk (0·9441, 0·9213-0·9675), and an increase of ten pocket park access points per km2 was associated with a decreased respiratory mortality risk (0·9164, 0·8457-0·9931). Other associations were observed, but the estimated effects were small (eg, all-cause mortality risk for increases of 1 pp in regional park area were 0·9913, 0·9861-0·9966 and increases of ten small open space access points per km2 were 1·0247, 1·0151-1·0344). Increasing the quantity of, and access to, pocket parks might help mitigate mortality risk. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that could explain these associations. Health Data Research UK (HDRUK).

Air pollution and stroke; effect modification by sociodemographic and environmental factors. A cohort study from Denmark.

Air pollution increases the risk of stroke, but the literature on identifying susceptible subgroups of populations is scarce and inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate if the association between air pollution and risk of stroke differed by sociodemographic factors, financial stress, comorbid conditions, and residential road traffic noise, population density and green space. We assessed long-term exposure to air pollution with ultrafine particles, PM2.5, elemental carbon and NO2 for a cohort of 1,971,246 Danes aged 50-85 years. During follow-up from 2005 to 2017, we identified 83,211 incident stroke cases. We used Cox proportional hazards model (relative risk) and Aalen additive hazards models (absolute risk) to estimate associations and confidence intervals (CI) between 5-year running means of air pollution at the residence and risk of stroke in population strata. All four pollutants were associated with higher risk of stroke. The association between air pollution and stroke was strongest among individuals with comorbidities, with shorter education, lower income and being retired. The results also indicated stronger associations among individuals living in less populated areas, and with low noise levels and more green space around the residence. Estimates of absolute risk seemed better suited to detect such interactions than estimates of relative risk. For example for PM2.5 the hazard ratio for stroke was 1.28 (95%CI: 1.22-1.34) and 1.26 (95%CI: 1.16-1.37) among those with mandatory and medium/long education respectively. The corresponding rate difference estimates per 100,000 person years were 568 (95%CI: 543-594) and 423(95%CI: 390-456) CONCLUSION: The associations between air pollution and risk of stroke was stronger among individuals of lower socioeconomic status or with pre-existing comorbid conditions. Absolute risk estimates were better suited to identify such effect modification.

Inequalities in residential nature and nature-based recreation are not universal: A country-level analysis in Austria

Evidence suggests that residential nature, e.g., greenness around the home, and nature-based recreation, e.g., visits to specific natural locations, are beneficial for health and well-being. However, several studies report that residential access is lower among socio-economically disadvantaged communities, potentially exacerbating health inequalities. We explored this issue in Austria, a relatively rural and mountainous country that also contains several cities, including the capital Vienna with around 2 million citizens. Data were drawn from a representative survey of the adult population across all nine Austrian regions (N = 2258) and explored socio-demographic predictors of residential green and blue space (using satellite data on surrounding greenness and distance to rivers and lakes), and visit frequencies to 12 different urban and rural green/blue environments. In contrast to most findings elsewhere, which usually focus on relatively specific locations (e.g., cities), we found little evidence of socio-economic inequalities in residential green/blue space at the whole country level. Further, although frequent visits to specific environments were less likely among, e.g., people with lower vs. higher education, other typically disadvantaged groups, e.g., those self-identifying as belonging vs. not belonging to an ethnic minority, reported more visits to e.g., urban parks and rivers. Findings suggest that inequalities in nature exposure may not be universal when considered at a country level.

Green sleep: Immediate residential greenspace and access to larger green areas are associated with better sleep quality, in a longitudinal population-based cohort

ObjectiveSleep is pivotal to health, wellbeing and functioning in daily life, but sleep difficulties are common and may be affected by modifiable qualities in the residential surrounding environment, in terms of greenspace. However, population-based studies on individual-level greenspace and sleep are limited. The objective of the current study was thus to investigate prospective associations between fine-grained individual-level residential greenspace and sleep, and moderating effects of life style (physical activity, work status) and sex, in a nationwide population-based Swedish cohort. MethodsParticipants of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH)—a population-based sample of adults in Sweden—were studied during 2014–2018 (19,375 individuals; 43,062 observations). Residential greenspace land cover, and coherent green area size, were assessed via high resolution geographic information systems, at 50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000 m buffers around residences. Prospective greenspace and sleep associations were assessed via multilevel general linear models, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic (individual and neighborhood), life style and urban factors. ResultsHigher greenspace availability in the immediate residential surroundings (50 m and 100 m buffer zones) was associated with less sleep difficulties, even after adjustment for confounders. Greenspace effects were generally greater among non-working individuals. Among the physically active, and among non-working, greenspace and green area size further away from home (300, 500 and 1000 m, i.e. dependent on mobility) were also associated with less sleep difficulties. ConclusionsResidential greenspace in the immediate residential surroundings is associated with significantly less sleep difficulties. Greenspace further away from home was associated with better sleep especially among the physically active, and non-working individuals. The results highlight the importance of greenspace in the immediate residential-surrounding environment for sleep, and the need to integrate health and environmental policies, urban planning and greening.

How does enclosed private residential green space impact accessibility equity in urban regions? A case study in Shenzhen, China

Compared with public parks, residential quarter green space (RQGS) is a type of enclosed private green space that is located in residential areas and has higher visit frequency. Generally, in China residential areas with high housing prices have higher quality and more quantity of RQGS. Therefore, the differences in RQGS between residents with different socio-economic status may influence the equity of urban green space accessibility. However, due to the lack of data sources, few existing studies have taken RQGS into account as a part of urban green space supply resources. Based on multi-source geographic big data, this paper takes Shenzhen as the research area to explore the impact of RQGS on the spatial pattern and fair distribution of green space accessibility. The total green space accessibility (TGSA), which includes the accessibility of RQGS, and the public park accessibility (PPA) were calculated using the Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method (2SFCA). Using housing prices to indicate the income level of dwellers, bivariate Moran’s I and multiple regression were adopted to explore equity of urban green space accessibility. The main conclusions were: (1) The accessibility of green space increased by 27.97% on average after considering RQGS and ignoring RQGS could underestimate the accessibility of green space, particularly in the residential quarter with high housing prices near the city center. (2) The regression coefficients of housing prices with PPA and TGSA were 0.042 (p < 0.01) and 0.160 (p < 0.001), respectively, indicating that the advantages of high-income groups in RQGS may further exacerbate the inequity of urban green space accessibility. The research conclusions may provide a scientific basis for optimizing the spatial structure of green space in urban areas and ensuring the equitable distribution of green space.

Joint associations and pathways from greenspace, traffic-related air pollution, and noise to poor self-rated general health: A population-based study in Sofia, Bulgaria

BackgroundLittle is still known of how multiple urban exposures interact as health determinants. This study investigated various ways in which greenspace, traffic-related air pollution, and noise could operate together, influencing general health status. MethodsIn 2022, a cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted in Sofia, Bulgaria. Included were 917 long-term adult residents who completed questionnaires on poor self-rated health (PSRH), total time spent in physical activity (PA), home garden presence, time spent in urban greenspace and nature, and sociodemographics. Residential greenspace was operationalized using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), tree cover density, number of trees, and access to local greenspace and parks. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was modeled for the study area. Road traffic, railway, and aircraft day-evening-night sound levels (Lden) were extracted from EU noise maps. Area-level income and urbanicity were considered. Analyses included multivariate ordinal regressions, interactions, and structural equation modeling (SEM). ResultsAssociations with PSRH were per 0.10 NDVI 300 m: OR = 0.65 (0.42–1.01), home garden: OR = 0.72 (0.49–1.07), per 5 μg/m3 NO2: OR = 1.57 (1.00–2.48), per 5 dB(A) Lden road traffic: OR = 1.06 (0.91–1.23), railway: OR = 1.11 (1.03–1.20), and aircraft: OR = 1.22 (1.11–1.34). Spending >30 min/week in nature related to better health. In multi-exposure models, only associations with aircraft and railway Lden persisted. People with lower education and financial difficulties or living in poorer districts experienced some exposures stronger. In SEM, time spent in nature and PA mediated the effect of greenspace. ConclusionsGreenspace was associated with better general health, with time spent in nature and PA emerging as intermediate pathways. NO2, railway, and aircraft noise were associated with poorer general health. These results could inform decision-makers, urban planners, and civil society organizations facing urban development problems. Mitigation and abatement policies and measures should target socioeconomically disadvantaged citizens.

Air pollution and myocardial infarction; effect modification by sociodemographic and environmental factors. A cohort study from Denmark

Air pollution is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), but it is unresolved to what extent the association is modified by factors such as socioeconomic status, comorbidities, financial stress, residential green space, or road traffic noise. We formed a cohort of all (n = 1,964,702) Danes, aged 50–85 years, with 65,311 cases of MI during the followed-up period 2005–2017. For all participants we established residential five-year running average exposure to particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), ultrafine particles (UFP, <0.1 μm), elemental carbon (EC) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We evaluated risk in population strata, using Aalen additive hazards models to estimate absolute risk and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate relative risk of MI with 95% confidence intervals (CI).PM2.5 and the other pollutant were associated with MI. Lower education and lower income were associated with higher absolute risks of MI from air pollution, whereas no clear effect modification was apparent for relative risk estimates. For example, 5 μg/m3 higher PM2.5 was associated with HR for MI of 1.16 (95% CI: 1.10–1.22) among those with only mandatory education and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03–1.24) among those with long education. The corresponding rate differences per 100,000 person years were 243 (95% CI: 216–271) and 358 (95% CI: 338–379), respectively. Higher level of comorbidity was consistently across all four pollutants associated with both higher absolute and relative risk of MI.In conclusion, people with comorbid conditions or of lower SES appeared more vulnerable to long-term exposure to air pollution and more cases of MI may be prevented by focused interventions in these groups.

Associations between Residential Greenspace and Fecundability in a North American Preconception Cohort Study.

Residential green space can have positive physiological effects on human health through various mechanisms, including reducing stress and/or depression or facilitating physical activity. Although green space has been consistently associated with improved birth outcomes in several studies, there has been limited study of its effect on other reproductive outcomes, including fertility. We examined associations between residential green space and fecundability, the per-cycle probability of conception. We analyzed data from 8,563 female participants enrolled between 2013 and 2019 in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a prospective preconception cohort study of North American couples attempting conception. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire on sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive factors, and bimonthly follow-up questionnaires for up to 12 months to ascertain pregnancies. Using geocoded addresses, we calculated residential green space exposure using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 50-, 100-, 250-, and buffers across multiple temporal scales: annual maximum, seasonal maximum, and seasonal mean. We used proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FRs), adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and neighborhood characteristics. We also evaluated the extent to which associations were mediated by reductions in perceived stress or depressive symptoms and increased physical activity. When comparing the highest () with the lowest () NDVI exposures within , we observed positive associations in the annual maximum NDVI [FR: 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.67] and seasonal maximum NDVI (FR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.41) models, but little association in the seasonal mean NDVI models (FR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.73, 1.30). Restricted cubic splines showed evidence of nonlinearity in this association. Results were similar across buffer distances. Perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and physical activity explained of mediation across all NDVI metrics. In this cohort, greater residential green space was associated with a modest increase in fecundability. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10648.