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Shezi B, Mendoza H, Govindasamy D, Casas L, Balakrishna Y, Bantjes J, Street R. Proximity to public green spaces and depressive symptoms among South African residents: a population-based study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:925. [PMID: 38553671 PMCID: PMC10981334 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18385-1] [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: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to green spaces has been suggested to improve mental health and may reduce the risk of depression. However, there is generally limited evidence on the association between green spaces and depression originating from low-and middle-income countries and Africa in particular. Here, we investigate the association between proximity to public green spaces and depressive symptoms among residents of Gauteng Province, South Africa. METHODS We used data from the 2017/2018 Gauteng quality of life survey. We included all individuals aged 18 years or older residing in the nine municipalities of Gauteng Province that completed the survey (n = 24,341). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2. Proximity to public green spaces was defined as self-reported walking time (either less or greater than 15 min) from individuals' homes to the nearest public green space. To assess the association between access to public green spaces and depressive symptoms, we used mixed-effects models, adjusted for age, sex, population group (African, Indian/Asian, Coloured (mixed race), and White), educational attainment, and municipality. We additionally performed stratified analyses by age, sex, educational attainment, and population group to evaluate whether associations differed within subgroups. Associations are expressed as prevalence ratios (PR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS We observed a 6% (PR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.92-0.96) prevalence reduction in depressive symptoms for individuals who reported that the nearest public green space was less than 15 min from their homes as compared to those who reported > 15 min. After stratification, this inverse association was stronger among females, individuals aged 35-59 years,those with higher levels of educational attainment, and Coloured individuals as compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that public green spaces close to residential homes may be associated with a reduction in the occurrence of depressive symptoms among urban populations in resource-constrained settings like South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Busisiwe Shezi
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 491 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Morningside, 4091, Durban, South Africa.
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Corner Siemert and Beit Street, Doornfontein, 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Hilbert Mendoza
- Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Doornstraat 331, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Darshini Govindasamy
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow Valley, 7501, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lidia Casas
- Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Doornstraat 331, BE-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Yusentha Balakrishna
- Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 491 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Morningside, 4091, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jason Bantjes
- Mental Health, Alcohol, Substance Use and Tobacco Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow Valley, Cape Town, South Africa, 7501
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape town, Groote Schuur Drive, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Renée Street
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Francie van Zijl Drive, Parow Valley, 7501, Cape Town, South Africa
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Xie H, Yang C, Tan X. Does national forest city improve residents' health? Evidence from China. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1304600. [PMID: 38444443 PMCID: PMC10912504 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1304600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective National health is essential for economic and social development. The aim of this article is to examine the relationship, heterogeneity effects and influential mechanisms between National Forest Cities and the residents' health. Methods The article matches the China Family Panel Studies data in 2018 (CFPS2018) with the 2016-2018 National Forest Cities Construction List, resulting in a final sample of 20,041. Oprobit, Ologit, Instrumental Variable technique (2SLS) and interaction term analysis were used as the main research methods in this article. Results The findings indicate that: (1) The construction of National Forest Cities significantly improves the residents' health in terms of both physical and mental health, and this conclusion is still valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) On the one hand, National Forest Cities promote residents' health by reducing air pollutants such as SO2 and soot to reduce residents' health risk exposure; On the other hand, it promotes residents' health by positively guiding them to engage in healthy behaviors. (3) National Forest Cities have a greater effect on the health of urban residents, older adult and lower-income group, suggesting that National Forest Cities are a public benefit. Conclusions The construction of National Forest Cities is a public welfare that promotes residents' health, and it is an important revelation for accelerating the realization of the Healthy China Strategy. The article provides new empirical evidence for understanding the welfare effects of forest cities and offers new practical paths for improving residents' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanjin Xie
- School of Economics and Management, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, China
| | - Chunmei Yang
- School of Economics and Management, East China Jiaotong University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xi Tan
- School of Economics and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Bao WW, Zhao Y, Dadvand P, Jiang N, Chen G, Yang B, Huang W, Xiao X, Liang J, Chen Y, Huang S, Pu X, Huang S, Lin H, Guo Y, Dong G, Chen Y. Urban greenspace and visual acuity in schoolchildren: a large prospective cohort study in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108423. [PMID: 38241831 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Greenspace is known to have a positive impact on human health and well-being, but its potential effects on visual acuity have not been extensively studied. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to examine the relationship between long-term greenspace exposure and visual acuity in children, while also exploring the potential mechanisms in this association. METHODS We conducted this prospective cohort study based on the Children's growth environment, lifestyle, physical, and mental health development project (COHERENCE), which screened 286,801 schoolchildren in Guangzhou, China, starting in the 2016/17 academic year and followed them up for three academic years (2017/18-2019/20). Visual acuity was measured using a standardized logarithmic chart, and visual impairment was defined as visual acuity worse than 0.0 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) units in the better eye. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) to assess the greenspace surrounding child's geocoded home and school at each visit. RESULTS Our analysis indicated that higher greenspace exposure was associated with greater visual acuity z-score at baseline and with slower decline in visual acuity z-score during the 3-year follow-up. An interquartile range increase in home-school-based NDVI 300m was associated with a 7% decrease [hazard ratios (HRs): 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 0.94] in the risk of visual impairment. We also found that air pollution, physical activity, outdoor time, and recreational screen time partially mediated the greenspace-visual acuity association. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that increasing greenspace exposure could benefit children's visual acuity development and reduce the risk of visual impairment by reducing air pollution and recreational screen time while increasing physical activity and outdoor time. All results could have potential policy implications, given the individual and societal burdens associated with visual impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wen Bao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain, CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Nan Jiang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Gongbo Chen
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Boyi Yang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Wenzhong Huang
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Xiang Xiao
- Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, China
| | - Jinghong Liang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yican Chen
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shan Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xueya Pu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shaoyi Huang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Haotian Lin
- Zhongshan Ophthalmic Centre, Sun Yat-sen University, 7# Jinsui Road, Guangzhou, 510623, China
| | - Yuming Guo
- Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Guanghui Dong
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yajun Chen
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Wu W, Wu G, Wei J, Lawrence WR, Deng X, Zhang Y, Chen S, Wang Y, Lin X, Chen D, Ruan X, Lin Q, Li Z, Lin Z, Hao C, Du Z, Zhang W, Hao Y. Potential causal links and mediation pathway between urban greenness and lung cancer mortality: Result from a large cohort (2009 to 2020). SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2024; 101:105079. [PMID: 38222851 PMCID: PMC10783447 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2023.105079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Urban greenness, as a vital component of the urban environment, plays a critical role in mitigating the adverse effects of rapid urbanization and supporting urban sustainability. However, the causal links between urban greenness and lung cancer mortality and its potential causal pathway remain poorly understood. Based on a prospective community-based cohort with 581,785 adult participants in southern China, we applied a doubly robust Cox proportional hazard model to estimate the causal associations between urban greenness exposure and lung cancer mortality. A general multiple mediation analysis method was utilized to further assess the potential mediating roles of various factors including particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5-1, and PM10-2.5), temperature, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). We observed that each interquartile range (IQR: 0.06) increment in greenness exposure was inversely associated with lung cancer mortality, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.89 (95 % CI: 0.83, 0.96). The relationship between greenness and lung cancer mortality might be partially mediated by particulate matter, temperature, and physical activity, yielding a total indirect effect of 0.826 (95 % CI: 0.769, 0.887) for each IQR increase in greenness exposure. Notably, the protective effect of greenness against lung cancer mortality could be achieved primarily by reducing the particulate matter concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Wu
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gonghua Wu
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Wayne R Lawrence
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Xinlei Deng
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, USA
| | - Yuqin Zhang
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shirui Chen
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Chen
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinling Ruan
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoxuan Lin
- Department of Statistics, Guangzhou Health Technology Identification & Human Resources Assessment Center, China
| | - Zhiqiang Li
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Basic Medicine and Public Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun Hao
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhicheng Du
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health & Center for Health Information Research &Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuantao Hao
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Peking, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases, Peking University, Ministry of Education, China
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He S, Yu S, Ai L, Dai J, Chung CKL. The built environment, purpose-specific walking behaviour and overweight: evidence from Wuhan metropolis in central China. Int J Health Geogr 2024; 23:2. [PMID: 38273303 PMCID: PMC10809537 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-024-00361-y] [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] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The impact of objective and subjective environmental factors on health outcomes has been a topic of significant debate, with a growing body of research acknowledging the role of a physically active lifestyle in promoting health. However, consensus regarding their precise influence remains elusive. This study contributes to these discussions by exploring how individual health outcomes correlate with transport and leisure walking behaviours, set against both the objective and subjective aspects of environmental influences in the context of Wuhan, an inland Chinese megacity. Street view images, multi-source geospatial data and a questionnaire survey were employed to characterise the "5D + Greenery" objective and perceived characteristics of the neighbourhood environment. Multi-group structural equation modelling was utilised to unravel the complex relationship and gender heterogeneity among environmental factors, purpose-specific walking, and overweight. Our results suggest that both objective land use diversity and perceived convenience are significantly associated with overweight. The accessibility of local service facilities and visible greenery promote both transport and leisure walking. While perceived neighbourhood safety encourages transport walking, perceived walkability is positively correlated with leisure walking. Notably, leisure walking, usually considered beneficial, presents a positive association with overweight conditions, acting as a mediation. Gender disparities exist in pathways between the environment and purpose-specific walking, as well as weight. The findings lend support to the planning of an activity-supporting built environment as a crucial strategy for obesity prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanwei He
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, 430073, China.
| | - Shan Yu
- Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lina Ai
- School of Public Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, 430073, China
| | - Jingya Dai
- Department of Community, Culture and Global Studies, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, Canada
| | - Calvin King Lam Chung
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Liu BP, Huxley RR, Schikowski T, Hu KJ, Zhao Q, Jia CX. Exposure to residential green and blue space and the natural environment is associated with a lower incidence of psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults: findings from the UK Biobank. BMC Med 2024; 22:15. [PMID: 38221612 PMCID: PMC10789017 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03239-1] [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] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is increasing evidence for the role of environmental factors and exposure to the natural environment on a wide range of health outcomes. Whether exposure to green space, blue space, and the natural environment (GBN) is associated with risk of psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults has not been prospectively examined. METHODS Longitudinal data from the UK biobank was used. At the study baseline (2006-2010), 363,047 participants (women: 53.4%; mean age 56.7 ± 8.1 years) who had not been previously diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder were included. Follow-up was achieved by collecting records from hospitals and death registers. Measurements of green and blue space modeled from land use data and natural environment from Land Cover Map were assigned to the residential address for each participant. Cox proportional hazard models with adjustment for potential confounders were used to explore the longitudinal associations between GBN and any psychiatric disorder and then by specific psychiatric disorders (dementia, substance abuse, psychotic disorder, depression, and anxiety) in middle-aged and older adults. RESULTS During an average follow-up of 11.5 ± 2.8 years, 49,865 individuals were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. Compared with the first tertile (lowest) of exposure, blue space at 300 m buffer [hazard ratio (HR): 0.973, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.952-0.994] and natural environment at 300 m buffer (HR: 0.970, 95% CI: 0.948-0.992) and at 1000 m buffer (HR: 0.975, 95% CI: 0.952-0.999) in the third tertile (highest) were significantly associated with lower risk of incident psychiatric disorders, respectively. The risk of incident dementia was statistically decreased when exposed to the third tertile (highest) of green space and natural environment at 1000 m buffer. The third tertile (highest) of green space at 300 m and 1000 m buffer and natural environment at 300 m and 1000 m buffer was associated with a reduction of 30.0%, 31.8%, 21.7%, and 30.3% in the risk of developing a psychotic disorder, respectively. Subgroup analysis suggested that the elderly, men, and those living with some comorbid conditions may derive greater benefits associated with exposure to GBN. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that GBN has significant benefits for lowering the risk of psychiatric disorders in middle-aged and older adults. Future studies are warranted to validate these findings and to understand the potential mechanistic pathways underpinning these novel findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Peng Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Rachel R Huxley
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Tamara Schikowski
- Department of Epidemiology, IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ke-Jia Hu
- Department of Big Data in Health Science, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
- Shandong University Climate Change and Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Cun-Xian Jia
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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Ogletree SS, Huang JH, Reif D, Yang L, Dunstan C, Osakwe N, Oh JI, Hipp JA. The relationship between greenspace exposure and telomere length in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167452. [PMID: 37777139 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The exposome, reflecting the range of environmental exposures individuals encounter throughout their life, can influence a variety of health outcomes and can play a role in how the environment impacts our genes. Telomeres, genetic structures regulating cell growth and senescence, are one pathway through which the exposome may impact health. Greenspace exposure, representing the amount of green areas in one's neighborhood, is one component of the exposome and has been associated with multiple health benefits. To investigate the potential link between greenspace exposure and telomere length, we analyzed data from the 1999-2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sample. Our study examined individual, risk, and contextual factors. We found that greater greenspace exposure in one's neighborhood was associated with longer telomere lengths when considering individual and risk factors, suggesting a positive effect of living in greener neighborhoods. However, this relationship became non-significant when contextual factors, such as air pollution and deprivation, were included in the analysis. These findings highlight a complex relationship between greenspace and telomere length, warranting further research to explore contextual factors in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Scott Ogletree
- Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, OPENspace Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America.
| | - Jing-Huei Huang
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America; Montgomery County Parks Department, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, United States of America
| | - David Reif
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, United States of America
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Canada; Departments of Oncology and Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Christopher Dunstan
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America
| | - Nnamdi Osakwe
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, United States of America
| | - Jae In Oh
- Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, United States of America
| | - J Aaron Hipp
- Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, United States of America; Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, United States of America
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Xiao Y, Liu C, Lei R, Wang Z, Wang X, Tian H, Xue B, Zhou E, Zhang K, Hu J, Luo B. Associations of PM 2.5 composition and green space with metabolic syndrome in a Chinese essential hypertensive population. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 343:140243. [PMID: 37742756 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has emerged as a significant global public health concern. While environmental factors, including PM2.5, have been identified as important risk factors for MetS in the general population, limited studies have investigated their impact on individuals with essential hypertension. Therefore, our study aims to explore the relationship between PM2.5 composition, green space, and their combined effects on MetS among a Chinese essential hypertensive population. METHOD A total of 20,131 participants diagnosed with essential hypertension from 10 provinces in China were included in this study. Individual level exposure to various environmental factors (including PM2.5, PM2.5 composition, green space and temperature) were evaluated using spatiotemporal models based on satellites data. Participants were defined as MetS according to the definition issued by the International Diabetes Federation. Generalized additive mixed models were used to analyze the individual air pollutants, green space and their interaction on MetS. RESULT The prevalence of MetS in this population was 44.33%. The adjusted odd ratio (OR) of MetS, with each one unit increase in SO42-, BC and NO3- were 1.077 (1.049, 1.106), 1.126 (1.077, 1.177) and 0.977 (0.958, 0.996) respectively. Additionally, each unit increase of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was associated with a decreased risk of MetS (OR: 0.988, 95% CI: 0.984-0.993). In particular, green space was found to mitigate the adverse impacts of PM2.5 on MetS (OR: 0.988, 95% CI: 0.984-0.993). CONCLUSION Our results suggested that there was a positive association between PM2.5 and its composition (SO42-, BC) with MetS in the essential hypertensive population, while green space might play a protective role. Moreover, green space could effectively weaken the positive relationship between air pollutants and MetS, especially in males and participants younger than 60 years old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Xiao
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Ce Liu
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Ruoyi Lei
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Zengwu Wang
- Division of Prevention and Community Health, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Division of Prevention and Community Health, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China
| | - Hezhong Tian
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation & Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Baode Xue
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Erkai Zhou
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA.
| | - Jihong Hu
- School of Public Health, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
| | - Bin Luo
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China.
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Zhang R, Lai KY, Liu W, Liu Y, Ma X, Webster C, Luo L, Sarkar C. Associations between Short-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Influenza: An Individual-Level Case-Crossover Study in Guangzhou, China. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:127009. [PMID: 38078424 PMCID: PMC10711742 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza imposes a heavy burden on public health. Little is known, however, of the associations between detailed measures of exposure to ambient air pollution and influenza at an individual level. OBJECTIVE We examined individual-level associations between six criteria air pollutants and influenza using case-crossover design. METHODS In this individual-level time-stratified case-crossover study, we linked influenza cases collected by the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019 with individual residence-level exposure to particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), ozone (O 3 ) and carbon monoxide (CO). The exposures were estimated for the day of onset of influenza symptoms (lag 0), 1-7 d before the onset (lags 1-7), as well as an 8-d moving average (lag07), using a random forest model and linked to study participants' home addresses. Conditional logistic regression was developed to investigate the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and influenza, adjusting for mean temperature, relative humidity, public holidays, population mobility, and community influenza susceptibility. RESULTS N = 108,479 eligible cases were identified in our study. Every 10 - μ g / m 3 increase in exposure to PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and CO and every 5 - μ g / m 3 increase in SO 2 over 8-d moving average (lag07) was associated with higher risk of influenza with a relative risk (RR) of 1.028 (95% CI: 1.018, 1.038), 1.041 (95% CI: 1.032, 1.049), 1.169 (95% CI: 1.151, 1.188), 1.004 (95% CI: 1.003, 1.006), and 1.134 (95% CI: 1.107, 1.163), respectively. There was a negative association between O 3 and influenza with a RR of 0.878 (95% CI: 0.866, 0.890). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to air pollution, except for O 3 , is associated with greater risk for influenza. Further studies are necessary to decipher underlying mechanisms and design preventive interventions and policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12145.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Zhang
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka Yan Lai
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wenhui Liu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chris Webster
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lei Luo
- Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chinmoy Sarkar
- Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, University of Hong Kong (HKU), Hong Kong, China
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, HKU, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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10
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Wu Y, Liu J, Quevedo JMD, Cheng H, Yu K, Kohsaka R. Critical factors influencing visitor emotions: analysis of "restorativeness" in urban park visits in Fuzhou, China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1286518. [PMID: 38074738 PMCID: PMC10703382 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1286518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To date, a comprehensive analysis of urban green space (UGS) visitors' emotional remains largely unexplored. In this study, we focus on how UGS environmental preferences, restorativeness, other physical factors (sound, air, and thermal environments), and individual characteristics affecting visitor emotions. Such a comprehensive analysis would allow relevant practitioners to check the environmental quality of UGSs and improve certain conditions to promote visitor emotions. Methods A total of 904 questionnaire responses with concurrently monitored physical factors were analyzed by independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA and path analysis. Results The thermal evaluation had the largest impact on positive emotions (β = 0.474), followed by perceived restorativeness (β = 0.297), which had β values of -0.120 and -0.158, respectively, on negative emotions. Air evaluation was more effective for increasing positive emotions (β = 0.293) than reducing negative emotions (β = -0.115). Sound evaluation also had similar results (β = 0.330 vs. β = -0.080). Environmental preference significantly influenced only positive emotions (β = 0.181) but could still indirectly impact negative emotions. Moreover, objective physical factors can indirectly affect visitors' emotions by enhancing their evaluations.. Conclusion The influence of different UGS environmental factors on visitors' emotions vary, as does their impacts on positive versus negative emotions. Positive emotions were generally more affected than negative emotions by UGS. Visitor emotions were mainly influenced by physical and psychological factors. Corresponding suggestions are proposed for UGS design and management in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jian Liu
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jay Mar D. Quevedo
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Huishan Cheng
- College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Kunyong Yu
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ryo Kohsaka
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Li Q, Liu Y, Yang L, Ge J, Chang X, Zhang X. The impact of urban green space on the health of middle-aged and older adults. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1244477. [PMID: 37900020 PMCID: PMC10602898 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1244477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Urban green space is one of the most closely related ecosystem services to residents' lives, and it can be regarded as a preventive public health measure. Residents living in parks and other green environments can help improve their physical and mental health, reduce stress and even prevent crime and violence. Therefore, based on the actual situation in China, this paper analyzes the relationship between urban green space and the health of middle-aged and older adults and its mechanisms. Methods This study used multiple linear regression, based the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013, 2015, and 2018, to explore the relationship between urban green space and the health of middle-aged and older adults. At the same time, group regression was conducted to identify the heterogeneity of health effects of urban green space. Results The research shows that the increase of urban green space areas can significantly improve the health status of middle-aged and older adults. After a series of robustness tests, the results are still valid. In addition, the health effects of urban green space are different because of gender, age, education level, marital status residence, geographical location of the respondents and park quantity distribution. Further research found that reducing hot weather and optimizing air quality are the potential mechanisms of urban green space affecting the health of middle-aged and older adults, providing new evidence for the causal mechanism between urban green space and the health of middle-aged and older adults. Discussion This study expanded the research scope of the impact of urban green space on the health of middle-aged and older adults, covering a representative sample in China. The results show that urban green space has an important impact on the health of middle-aged and older adults. Policy suggestions are made to help cities optimize the landscape and residents to enjoy ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiangyi Li
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- Development Institute of Zhujiang-Xijiang Economic Zone, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
- Economics and Management School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangqing Liu
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Lan Yang
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Jiexiao Ge
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Xiaona Chang
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, China
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12
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Wang X, Li G, Pan J, Shen J, Han C. The difference in the elderly's visual impact assessment of pocket park landscape. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16895. [PMID: 37803038 PMCID: PMC10558517 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43522-y] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As an important part of urban public open space, pocket parks have become an important activity place for the elderly in the context of the aging society in China. With the pocket parks in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China as research object, this paper set six landscape features to be studied, namely, Height of trees, Green color richness, Stratification of green landscapes, Green space ratio, Leisure facilities, and Water landscape. The elderly respondents with different demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, education level and residential type, were subjected to the picture stimulation experiment whose results were then statistically analyzed. The results indicate that gender and residential type exert certain influence on the elderly's visual impact assessment of pocket park landscape. To be specific, the male elderly prefer the pocket park landscape with 3-6 m high trees, medium green space ratio, and more leisure facilities; the female elderly are in greater favor of pocket park landscapes with 0-3 m high trees, five or more colors, three or more layers; the elderly who live with their families prefer pocket park landscapes with medium green space ratio and more leisure facilities; to the elderly who live alone, pocket park landscapes with trees which are 0-3 m high, five or more colors, and medium leisure facilities are more attractive. This study can provide valuable reference for pocket park design in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wang
- China University of Mining and Technology, No. 1, Daxue Road, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Guanjun Li
- China University of Mining and Technology, No. 1, Daxue Road, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jingyin Pan
- China University of Mining and Technology, No. 1, Daxue Road, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jiamin Shen
- China University of Mining and Technology, No. 1, Daxue Road, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chenping Han
- China University of Mining and Technology, No. 1, Daxue Road, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China.
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13
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Liu C, Liu C, Zhang P, Tian M, Zhao K, He F, Dong Y, Liu H, Peng W, Jia X, Yu Y. Association of greenness with the disease burden of lower respiratory infections and mediation effects of air pollution and heat: a global ecological study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:91971-91983. [PMID: 37481494 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28816-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to greenness is increasingly linked to beneficial health outcomes, but the associations between greenness and the disease burden of lower respiratory infections (LRIs) are unclear. We used the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the leaf area index (LAI) to measure greenness and incidence, death, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to LRIs to represent the disease burden of LRIs. We applied a generalized linear mixed model to evaluate the association between greenness and LRI disease burden and performed a stratified analysis, after adjusting for covariates. Additionally, we assessed the potential mediating effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and heat on the association between greenness and the disease burden of LRIs. In the adjusted model, one 0.1 unit increase of NDVI and 0.5 increase in LAI were significantly inversely associated with incidence, death, and DALYs due to LRIs, respectively. Greenness was negatively correlated with the disease burden of LRIs across 15-65 age group, both sexes, and low SDI groups. PM2.5, O3, and heat mediated the effects of greenness on the disease burden of LRIs. Greenness was significantly negatively associated with the disease burden of LRIs, possibly by reducing exposure to air pollution and heat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengrong Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Peiyao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Meihui Tian
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Fenfen He
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Yilin Dong
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Haoyu Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
| | - Wenjia Peng
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjie Jia
- Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Department of Physiology, Bengbu Medical College, 2600 Dong Hai Avenue, Bengbu, 233030, China.
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14
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Son JY, Yang JJ, Choi S, Lee YK. Impacts of residential environment on residents' place attachment, satisfaction, WOM, and pro-environmental behavior: evidence from the Korean housing industry. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1217877. [PMID: 37575445 PMCID: PMC10416646 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1217877] [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: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study considers seven residential environment elements and examines their effect on residents' place attachment (place dependence and place identity), satisfaction, word-of-mouth behavior, and pro-environmental behavior. The study also examines whether gender moderates the proposed relationships. The data were collected from 603 respondents who owned a condominium in Seoul, South Korea. We analyzed the data using structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 4. The finding shows that all seven elements of the residential environment have a significant impact on either dimension of place attachment, except for the insignificant effect of social environment on place dependence. Both dimensions of place attachment have a significant effect on satisfaction, WOM, and pro-environmental behavior except for the insignificant effect of place dependence on pro-environmental behavior. The interaction effect test of gender shows that males consider eco-friendly materials and green/recreational areas more than females. On the other hand, females are found to weigh and social environments more heavily than males. The finding shows that pro-environmental behavior is influenced by place identity (not by place dependence) and satisfaction, indicating a key role of affective response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Young Son
- Graduate School of Business (Major in Sustainability), Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jang Yang
- School of Business and Graduate School of eMA, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyuk Choi
- Graduate School of Business (Major in Sustainability), Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Ki Lee
- School of Business and Sustainability Environment Energy Bio Institute, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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15
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Zheng Y, Zhang M, Wang S, Wang L. The impacts of low-carbon city pilot policies on natural population growth: empirical evidence from China's prefecture-level cities. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1214070. [PMID: 37521979 PMCID: PMC10379625 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1214070] [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: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The carbon emissions that cities contribute drive the development of low-carbon cities (LCCs) and low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) policies. However, the lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the impacts of LCCP policies on natural population growth hampers effective policy design and implementation, thus constraining sustainable development at the city level. Methodology Extending the existing papers which focus on the relations between low-carbon pilot policies and industry transformation or economic growth, this research applies several experimental methods [e.g., Propensity Score Matching-Difference in Differences (PSM-DID)] to investigate the impacts of low-carbon pilot policies on natural population growth by applying the data from 287 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2019. Results and Discussion This research found that low-carbon pilot policies would positively influence the low-carbon cities' natural population growth by influencing (a) economic factors, (b) political factors, (c) technological factors, and (d) the living environment. This research establishes a framework for understanding the impact mechanisms of LCCP on natural population growth. This paper investigates how industrial structure optimization, policy design and implementation in different regions, technological innovations, and urban green space theoretically affect natural population growth. This paper also proposed characteristics of LCCP which should be theoretically concerned by the government. From a practical perspective, this research suggests several policy recommendations. Central and local governments are encouraged to prioritize industrial structure optimization and assess populations' dependence on cultivated land. Providing additional policy support to underdeveloped areas is crucial to promote the balance between economic and environmental development. Furthermore, establishing online public health platforms and urban green spaces is proposed to enhance the population's health and complement the implementation of LCCP policies. This offers both theoretical and practical insights into the impacts of LCCP policies on natural population growth. Its findings contribute to designing and implementing LCCP policies in China and other developing countries at a similar development stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Zheng
- College of Business and Economics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Miao Zhang
- China National Gold Group Gold Jewellery Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Sen Wang
- School of Business, Operations and Strategy, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Management, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, China
- Institute of Digital and Intelligent Management, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, China
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16
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Gullón P, Fontán-Vela M, Díez J, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Rojas-Rueda D, Escobar F, Franco M. Who benefits from green spaces? Surrounding greenness and incidence of cardiovascular disease in a population-based electronic medical records cohort in Madrid. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 252:114221. [PMID: 37421937 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
The objective was to study the association between surrounding greenness and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with a four years follow-up in almost half a million high CVD-risk women and men, as well as its differential effect by area-level deprivation in Madrid. We analyzed 2015-2018 primary healthcare electronic medical records for 437,513 high CVD risk individuals representing more than 95% of the population of that age range residing in Madrid. The outcome variable was any cardiovascular event. We measured surrounding residence greenness at 200 m, 300 m, 500 m, and 1000 m through the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). We assessed socioeconomic deprivation through a census-based deprivation index. We estimated the 4-year relative risk of CVD by an increase in 0.1 units of NDVI and then stratified the models by quintiles of deprivation (Q5 the most deprived). We found that for every increase in 0.1 units of NDVI at 1000 m there was a 16% decrease in CVD risk (RR = 0.84 95% CI 0.75-0.94). CVD risk for the remaining distance exposures (at 200 m, 300 m, and 500 m) were none statistically significant. In general, the protective effect of green spaces was present in medium-deprivation areas and males, but the associations were inconsistent across deprivation levels. This study highlights the relevance of evaluating the interaction between physical and social urban components to further understand possible population prevention approaches for cardiovascular diseases. Future studies should focus on the mechanisms of context-specific interactions between social inequalities and green spaces' effects on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Gullón
- Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala de Henares, 28871, Madrid, Spain; Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Mario Fontán-Vela
- Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala de Henares, 28871, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Lengua, Literatura y Antropología, Centro Superior de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain
| | - Julia Díez
- Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala de Henares, 28871, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), 08036, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Rojas-Rueda
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Colorado School of Public Health, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Francisco Escobar
- Department of Geology, Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Alcalá, Calle Colegios 2, Alcalá de Henares, 28801, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Franco
- Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcala, Alcala de Henares, 28871, Madrid, Spain; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md, 21205-2217, USA
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Kim K, Joyce BT, Nannini DR, Zheng Y, Gordon-Larsen P, Shikany JM, Lloyd-Jones DM, Hu M, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Vaughan DE, Zhang K, Hou L. Inequalities in urban greenness and epigenetic aging: Different associations by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf8140. [PMID: 37379393 PMCID: PMC10306284 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf8140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Slower epigenetic aging is associated with exposure to green space (greenness); however, the longitudinal relationship has not been well studied, particularly in minority groups. We investigated the association between 20-year exposure to greenness [Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)] and epigenetic aging in a large, biracial (Black/white), U.S. urban cohort. Using generalized estimating equations adjusted for individual and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics, greater greenness was associated with slower epigenetic aging. Black participants had less surrounding greenness and an attenuated association between greenness and epigenetic aging [βNDVI5km: -0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.75, 3.13 versus βNDVI5km: -3.03, 95% CI: -5.63, -0.43 in white participants]. Participants in disadvantaged neighborhoods showed a stronger association between greenness and epigenetic aging (βNDVI5km: -3.36, 95% CI: -6.65, -0.08 versus βNDVI5km: -1.57, 95% CI: -4.12, 0.96 in less disadvantaged). In conclusion, we found a relationship between greenness and slower epigenetic aging, and different associations by social determinants of health such as race and neighborhood socioeconomic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeezu Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brian T. Joyce
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Drew R. Nannini
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yinan Zheng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Penny Gordon-Larsen
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - James M. Shikany
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Donald M. Lloyd-Jones
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ming Hu
- School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen
- Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Douglas E. Vaughan
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Potocsnak Longevity Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Lifang Hou
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Potocsnak Longevity Institute, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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18
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Kim MJ. Unintended consequences of healthcare reform in South Korea: evidence from a regression discontinuity in time design. Health Res Policy Syst 2023; 21:60. [PMID: 37349727 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-023-00993-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To address concerns over the financial stability of South Korea's National Health Insurance (NHI) programme, the government transitioned from an outpatient copayment system to a coinsurance system in 2007. This policy aimed to reduce healthcare overutilization by increasing patients' financial responsibility for outpatient services. METHODS Using comprehensive data on NHI beneficiaries, this study employs a regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) design to assess the policy's impact on outpatient healthcare utilization and expenditures. We focus on changes in overall outpatient visits, average healthcare cost per visit and total outpatient healthcare expenditures. RESULTS Our findings indicate that the transition from outpatient copayment to coinsurance led to a substantial increase in outpatient healthcare utilization (up to 90%) while decreasing medical expenditures per visit by 23%. The policy shift incentivized beneficiaries to seek more medical treatments during the grace period and enroll in supplemental private health insurance, which provided access to additional medical services at lower marginal costs. CONCLUSIONS The policy change and the emergence of supplemental private insurance contributed to moral hazard and adverse selection issues, culminating in South Korea becoming the country with the highest per capita utilization of outpatient health services worldwide since 2012. This study underscores the importance of carefully considering the unintended consequences of policy interventions in the healthcare sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moon Joon Kim
- Department of Economics, George Mason University Korea, Songdomunhwa-ro 119-4, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, 21985, South Korea.
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Johannessen A, Xu S, Abbah AP, Janson C. Greenness exposure: beneficial but multidimensional. Breathe (Sheff) 2023; 19:220221. [PMID: 37645023 PMCID: PMC10461730 DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0221-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies have shown that greenness has beneficial health effects, particularly on psychological and cardiovascular outcomes. In this narrative review, we provide a synthesis of knowledge regarding greenness exposure and respiratory health. The following outcomes were reviewed: respiratory mortality, lung cancer mortality, lung cancer incidence, respiratory hospitalisations, lung function, COPD, and asthma. We identified 174 articles through a literature search in PubMed, of which 42 were eligible for inclusion in this review. The most common marker for greenness exposure was the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), which was used in 29 out of 42 papers. Other markers used were tree canopy cover, landcover/land-use, plant diversity, density of tall trees and subjectively perceived greenness. We found beneficial effects of greenness in most studies regarding respiratory mortality, lung cancer incidence, respiratory hospitalisations and lung function. For lung cancer mortality, asthma and COPD, the effects of greenness were less clear cut. While many aspects of greenness are beneficial, some aspects may be harmful, and greenness may have different health effects in different population subgroups. Future studies of greenness and respiratory diseases should focus on asthma and COPD, on effects in different population subgroups and on disentangling the health effects of the various greenness dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ane Johannessen
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Shanshan Xu
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Achenyo Peace Abbah
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Christer Janson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Bianconi A, Longo G, Coa AA, Fiore M, Gori D. Impacts of Urban Green on Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5966. [PMID: 37297570 PMCID: PMC10253108 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20115966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality globally. In particular, ischemic heart diseases (IHDs) and cerebrovascular diseases (CBVDs) represent the main drivers of CVD-related deaths. Many literature examples have assessed the association between CVD risk factors and urban greenness. Urban green (UG) may positively affect physical activity, reduce air and noise pollution, and mitigate the heat island effect, which are known risk factors for CVD morbidity. This systematic review aims to assess the effects of urban green spaces on CVD morbidity and mortality. Peer-reviewed research articles with a quantitative association between urban green exposure variables and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes were included. Meta-analyses were conducted for each outcome evaluated in at least three comparable studies. Most of the included studies' results highlighted an inverse correlation between exposure to UG and CVD outcomes. Gender differences were found in four studies, with a protective effect of UG only statistically significant in men. Three meta-analyses were performed, showing an overall protective effect of UG on CVD mortality (HR (95% CI) = 0.94 (0.91, 0.97)), IHD mortality (HR (95% CI) = 0.96 (0.93, 0.99)), and CBVD mortality (HR (95% CI) = 0.96 (0.94, 0.97)). The results of this systematic review suggest that exposure to UG may represent a protective factor for CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Matteo Fiore
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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21
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Cao Z, Xu C, Li S, Wang Y, Yang H. Residential greenspace and risk of cancer: A prospective cohort study from the UK Biobank. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:162145. [PMID: 36773899 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that proximity to greenspace is linked to multiple health outcomes, but its association with the risk of cancer is not fully understood. The mechanism for greenspace's influences on cancer incidence may be through reducing depressive symptoms and increasing physical activity. Our study aimed to investigate the associations between exposure to residential greenspace and the risk of common types of cancer and whether the associations were modified or mediated by depressive symptoms and physical activity. METHODS This prospective cohort study included 401,189 participants in the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010 who were free of cancer and followed up until 2021. Residential greenspace was defined as the percentage of outdoor greenspace surrounding the residential location of each participant across 1000 m and 300 m buffers, which were estimated with land use data. Electronic health records were used to assess the incidence of 25 types of cancer. Cox proportional hazards regressions were performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) per an interquartile range (IQR) increase of greenspace after multiple comparisons using Bonferroni correction. RESULTS During a median follow-up of 12.4 years, a total of 43,273 incident cancer cases were documented. We found that exposure to greenspace at a 1000 m buffer was significantly associated with prostate cancer (HR = 0.93, 95 % CI: 0.89-0.96), and suggestively associated with oral cavity (HR = 0.86, 95 % CI: 0.76-0.98) and bladder cancer (HR = 1.08, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.15), but not with other cancers. Moreover, the association between greenspace and prostate cancer was mediated by physical activity, and was modified by depressive symptoms (P for heterogeneity = 0.022). Similar findings were also observed for greenspace at a 300 m buffer. CONCLUSION Our study revealed an association between exposure to greenspace and prostate cancer, but not with other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Cao
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenjie Xu
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shu Li
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yaogang Wang
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongxi Yang
- School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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22
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Yuan L, Li D, Tian Y, Sun Y. The association between residential greenness and hearing impairment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:51113-51124. [PMID: 36807037 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25952-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence shows that residential greenness is beneficial for various health outcomes, but the link between residential greenness and hearing impairment has not been explored. We aimed to explore the link between residential greenness and hearing impairment using baseline data from the UK Biobank. We used data from 107,516 participants between the ages of 40 and 69 years in the UK Biobank from 2006 to 2010. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to measure the residential greenness. We defined hearing impairment using the digital triplet test. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the association of residential greenness with hearing impairment. Each interquartile increment in NDVI was associated with 19% lower odds of hearing impairment (odds ratio, OR 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 0.79-0.83). Compared with participants in the first NDVI quartile, those in the second, third, and fourth NDVI quartiles had lower odds of hearing impairment (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.65-0.73 for the second; OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.72-0.81 for the third; OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.65-0.72 for the fourth). Age and Townsend deprivation index showed moderating effects on this association. Our findings showed a negative association between residential greenness and hearing impairment, which might provide potential value for developing cost-effective greenness design and configuration interventions to reduce the risk of hearing impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlai Yuan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dankang Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaohua Tian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, China.
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23
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Dandolo L, Telkmann K, Hartig C, Horstmann S, Pedron S, Schwettmann L, Selsam P, Schneider A, Bolte G. Do Multiple Sex/Gender Dimensions Play a Role in the Association of Green Space and Self-Rated Health? Model-Based Recursive Partitioning Results from the KORA INGER Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5241. [PMID: 37047857 PMCID: PMC10094300 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075241] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to green space has a positive impact on health. Whether sex/gender modifies the green space-health association has so far only been studied through the use of a binary sex/gender category; however, sex/gender should be considered more comprehensively as a multidimensional concept based on theoretical approaches. We therefore explored whether sex/gender, operationalized through multiple sex/gender- and intersectionality-related covariates, modifies the green space-self-rated health association. We collected data from participants involved in the German KORA study (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) in 2019. Self-rated health was assessed as a one-question item. The availability of green spaces was measured subjectively as well as objectively. The multiple sex/gender- and intersectionality-related covariates were measured via self-assessment. To analyze the data, we used model-based recursive partitioning, a decision tree method that can handle complex data, considering both multiple covariates and their possible interactions. We showed that none of the covariates operationalizing an individual sex/gender self-concept led to subgroups with heterogeneous effects in the model-based tree analyses; however, we found effect heterogeneity based on covariates representing structural aspects from an intersectionality perspective, although they did not show the intersectional structuring of sex/gender dimensions. In one identified subgroup, those with a lower education level or a feeling of discrimination based on social position showed a positive green space-self-rated health association, while participants with a higher education level or no feeling of discrimination based on social position had a high level of self-rated health regardless of the availability of green spaces. Model-based recursive partitioning has the potential to detect subgroups exhibiting different exposure-outcome associations, with the possibility of integrating multiple sex/gender- and intersectionality-related covariates as potential effect modifiers. A comprehensive assessment of the relevance of sex/gender showed effect heterogeneity based on covariates representing structural aspects from an intersectionality perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Dandolo
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Klaus Telkmann
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Christina Hartig
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Sophie Horstmann
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Sara Pedron
- Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Professorship of Public Health and Prevention, Technical University of Munich, 80992 Munich, Germany
| | - Lars Schwettmann
- Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Division for Health Economics, Department of Health Services Research, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Peter Selsam
- Department Monitoring and Exploration Technologies, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexandra Schneider
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Bolte
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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24
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Wicks CL, Barton JL, Andrews L, Orbell S, Sandercock G, Wood CJ. The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Contribution of Local Green Space and Nature Connection to Mental Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5083. [PMID: 36981991 PMCID: PMC10049389 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to green space and feeling connected to the natural environment have independently been associated with improved mental health outcomes. During the coronavirus pandemic, people experienced restrictions on access to the outdoors, and health data indicated a decline in mental health in the UK general population. METHODS Data available from two independent surveys conducted prior to and during the pandemic enabled a naturally occurring comparison of mental health and its correlates prior to and during the pandemic. RESULTS Survey responses from 877 UK residents were included in the analyses. Independent t-tests revealed significant declines in mental health scores during the pandemic. After controlling for age and gender, greater nature connection significantly predicted lower depression and stress and improved well-being. Percentage of green space did not significantly predict any mental health outcomes. Further, time point (pre- or during COVID) and the interaction of time point with green space and nature connection did not significantly predict any of the outcome measures. The findings indicate that nature connection may play an important role in promoting mental health. Strategies to improve mental health and reduce mental illness should consider the role of nature connection and the use of interventions that involve direct interaction with natural environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L. Wicks
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Jo L. Barton
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Leanne Andrews
- School of Health and Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Sheina Orbell
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Gavin Sandercock
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Carly J. Wood
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
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25
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Li J, Fu J, Gao J, Zhou R, Wang K, Zhou K. Effects of the spatial patterns of urban parks on public satisfaction: evidence from Shanghai, China. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2023; 38:1265-1277. [PMID: 37051135 PMCID: PMC9975882 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-023-01615-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Urban parks need to meet the growing demand for activities vital to residents' well-being and urban development. A holistic understanding of public satisfaction with urban parks is a prerequisite for improving management. OBJECTIVE The spatial patterns and composition of urban parks vary greatly, and the objective of this study is to comprehensively investigate public satisfaction with urban parks and the impact of their structure. METHODS With the metropolis of Shanghai, China, as an example, we employed 111,814 social media data sets for 50 urban park sites to quantify public satisfaction via the long short-term memory model. We analyzed the internal, boundary and external dimensions of spatial patterns and described the internal landscape patterns from the perspectives of size, heterogeneity, aggregation, shape, diversity and landscape elements. Moreover, we used all-subset regression and hierarchical partitioning to quantify the relationship and mechanism of action between spatial patterns and public satisfaction. RESULTS The results indicate that the mean value of public satisfaction with urban parks was 0.716 (ranging from 0 to 1), which is generally positive or neutral. Satisfaction was influenced by the internal, boundary, and external spatial patterns of urban parks. The independent contribution rates of external transportation facility density (51.49%) and internal edge density (48.51%) to satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS We highlight the roles of spatial patterns, especially the degree of external transportation convenience and the edge density of urban parks at the landscape level. The findings provide guidance and recommendations for the planning and design of public satisfaction-oriented urban parks. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-023-01615-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- School of Ecological Technology and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, 201418 China
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
| | - Jing Fu
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
| | - Jun Gao
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
| | - Rui Zhou
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
| | - Keyue Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
| | - Kaiyue Zhou
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234 China
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26
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Tung YH, Hung SH, Chang CY, Tang HF. Onsite restorative effect of a rural ecological farm versus an urban public greenery space. LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING 2023. [PMCID: PMC9923656 DOI: 10.1007/s11355-023-00546-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Accessible urban greenery allows short breaks and leisure activities while experiencing nature. Studies have shown that contact with nature elicits psychological and physical health benefits. However, the immediate impact and influence of exposure to artificial versus rural ecological nature have yet to be examined. This study investigates their psychophysiological restorative effects onsite, specifically when individuals view a ubiquitous urban public greenery space or a more indigenous ecological forest-like nature area, to compare levels of restorativeness and relaxation. Participants were asked to sit and view a scene onsite for 6 min while their facial muscle tension was recorded. The data were used to evaluate the degree of facial relaxation for both scenes. In addition, participant self-reports measured perceived restorativeness after the 6-min period. The self-reported data showed that the ecological farm scene was rated significantly higher for perceived restorativeness (t [49.136] = 9.094, p < .001) after 6 min of viewing. The muscle tension analysis showed that facial tension significantly declined when participants viewed the farm scene compared to the urban greenery space. These results, especially those on the farm, show that nature with more forest-like and rural elements elicited more powerful restorative effects and significantly lowered facial muscle tension (t [65] = − 2.785, p < .05), thus verifying that a more ecological nature landscape provides immediate, significant health benefits through attention recovery and reduced facial muscle stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsin Tung
- grid.19188.390000 0004 0546 0241Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Han Hung
- grid.265231.10000 0004 0532 1428Department of Landscape Architecture, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yen Chang
- grid.19188.390000 0004 0546 0241Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Fen Tang
- grid.412146.40000 0004 0573 0416Department of Leisure Industry and Health Promotion, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei City, Taiwan
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27
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Protocol for the Open Sky School: a two-arm clustered randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a nature-based intervention on mental health of elementary school children. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:236. [PMID: 36737725 PMCID: PMC9896439 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15033-y] [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: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article outlines the protocol for a trial to test the effectiveness of a nature-based intervention called Open Sky School to reduce mental health problems among elementary school children. Experimental studies show that contact with nature (e.g. walks in parks) improve mental health. A growing number of teachers have been applying outdoor education within the regular school curriculum and evidence suggests that such teaching methods could improve students' mental health but a randomized controlled trial has never been conducted. METHODS A two-arm clustered randomized controlled trial will be conducted in elementary schools across Québec, Canada. Following informed consent by teachers, parents and students, schools will be randomly assigned 1:1 to the intervention or the control group with a total of 2500 5-6th grade students and 100 teachers expected to participate. The intervention will take place outdoors in a green-space (2 h per week for 12 weeks) and include a toolkit of 30 activities to foster well-being (e.g. mindfulness) and academic competencies (e.g. mathematics). Questionnaires will be administered to teachers and students before, immediately after and 3 months after the intervention. The primary outcome will be reductions of mental health problems in children from pre-to-post test (Social Behavior Questionnaire: self and teacher reports). Secondary outcomes include depression, positive and negative affect, nature connectedness, and pro-environmental behaviors among children. We will explore, immediate benefits on teacher's well-being and positive and negative affect and sustained benefits among students at 3 months follow-up. For the primary outcome, we will explore moderators including child's sex, child's disability status, the green-space of neighbourhoods, the school's socio-economic position and teacher's experience. DISCUSSION In conducting the first randomized controlled trial of the Open Sky School, our results could provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of nature-based interventions in reducing mental health problems among elementary school children. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov: NCT05662436 on December 22, 2022.
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28
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Zhang Y, Li X, Lu L, Huang F, Liu H, Zhang Y, Yang L, Usman M, Li S. Urbanization Reduces Phyllosphere Microbial Network Complexity and Species Richness of Camphor Trees. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020233. [PMID: 36838198 PMCID: PMC9966171 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020233] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on microbial communities associated with foliage in natural ecosystems have grown in number in recent years yet have rarely focused on urban ecosystems. With urbanization, phyllosphere microorganisms in the urban environment have come under pressures from increasing human activities. To explore the effects of urbanization on the phyllosphere microbial communities of urban ecosystems, we investigated the phyllosphere microbial structure and the diversity of camphor trees in eight parks along a suburban-to-urban gradient. The results showed that the number of ASVs (amplicon sequence variants), unique on the phyllosphere microbial communities of three different urbanization gradients, was 4.54 to 17.99 times higher than that of the shared ASVs. Specific microbial biomarkers were also found for leaf samples from each urbanization gradient. Moreover, significant differences (R2 = 0.133, p = 0.005) were observed in the phyllosphere microbial structure among the three urbanization gradients. Alpha diversity and co-occurrence patterns of bacterial communities showed that urbanization can strongly reduce the complexity and species richness of the phyllosphere microbial network of camphor trees. Correlation analysis with environmental factors showed that leaf total carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S), as well as leaf C/N, soil pH, and artificial light intensity at night (ALIAN) were the important drivers in determining the divergence of phyllosphere microbial communities across the urbanization gradient. Together, we found that urbanization can affect the composition of the phyllosphere bacterial community of camphor trees, and that the interplay between human activities and plant microbial communities may contribute to shaping the urban microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xiaomin Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Lu Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (S.L.)
| | - Fuyi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren’ai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Lab of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Luhua Yang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Muhammad Usman
- PEIE Research Chair for the Development of Industrial Estates and Free Zones, Center for Environmental Studies and Research, Sultan Qaboos University, Al-Khoud, Muscat 123, Oman
| | - Shun Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Correspondence: (L.L.); (S.L.)
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29
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Noseworthy M, Peddie L, Buckler EJ, Park F, Pham M, Pratt S, Singh A, Puterman E, Liu-Ambrose T. The Effects of Outdoor versus Indoor Exercise on Psychological Health, Physical Health, and Physical Activity Behaviour: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Trials. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1669. [PMID: 36767034 PMCID: PMC9914639 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of research is exploring the potential added health benefits of exercise when performed outdoors in nature versus indoors. This systematic review aimed to compare the effects of exercise in outdoor environments versus indoor environments on psychological health, physical health, and physical activity behaviour. We searched nine databases from inception to March 2021 for English language, peer-reviewed articles: MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, SportsDiscus, GreenFile, and CENTRAL. We included randomized and non-randomized trials that compared multiple bouts of exercise in outdoor versus indoor environments, and that assessed at least one outcome related to physical health, psychological health, or physical activity behaviour. Due to minimal outcome overlap and a paucity of studies, we performed a narrative synthesis. We identified 10 eligible trials, including 7 randomized controlled trials, and a total of 343 participants. Participant demographics, exercise protocols, and outcomes varied widely. In the 10 eligible studies, a total of 99 comparisons were made between outdoor and indoor exercise; all 25 statistically significant comparisons favoured outdoor exercise. Interpretation of findings was hindered by an overall high risk of bias, unclear reporting, and high outcome heterogeneity. There is limited evidence for added health or behaviour benefits of outdoor exercise versus indoor exercise. Rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed with larger samples and clear reporting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Noseworthy
- Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Health Lab, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Luke Peddie
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - E. Jean Buckler
- School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Faith Park
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Margaret Pham
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Spencer Pratt
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Arpreet Singh
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Eli Puterman
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Teresa Liu-Ambrose
- Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Health Lab, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 2B5, Canada
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Zhou W, Wang Q, Kadier A, Wang W, Zhou F, Li R, Ling L. The role of residential greenness levels, green land cover types and diversity in overweight/obesity among older adults: A cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 217:114854. [PMID: 36403655 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated the effects of greenness exposure, green land cover types and diversity and their interaction with particulate matter (PM) to adiposity. METHOD Cohort data were collected from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Baseline data on greenness levels, green land cover types and diversity were assessed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), three greenery types (trees, shrublands and grassland) and Shannon's diversity index, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were separately used as dependent variables and represented for peripheral overweight/obesity and central obesity, respectively. The mixed Cox model with random intercept was used to estimate the effects of greenness levels, types and diversity on overweight/obesity using single and multiple exposure models. We also examined the interaction of PM and the aforementioned indicators on overweight/obesity on both additive and multiplicative scales. RESULTS Single exposure models showed that higher levels of residential greenness, tree coverage and ratio of trees to shrublands/grassland were inversely associated with peripheral overweight/obesity and central obesity. An increase in shrublands, grassland and diversity of green was related to lower odds of peripheral overweight/obesity. Multiple exposure models confirmed the association between greenness levels and peripheral overweight/obesity. Males, educated participants and elderly who lived in southern regions and areas with cleaner air environments acquired more benefits from greenspace exposure. Single and multiple exposure models indicated that an antagonistic effect of increasing PM and decreasing greenness levels on peripheral overweight/obesity and central obesity. Single exposure models showed the potential interaction of tree coverage, ratio of trees to grassland and PM2.5 exposures on the risk of peripheral overweight/obesity. CONCLUSION Increasing residential greenness and diversity of green were associated with healthy weight status. The relationship between greenery and overweight/obesity varied, and the effects of greenspace exposure on overweight/obesity were associated with air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensu Zhou
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Aimulaguli Kadier
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjuan Wang
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fenfen Zhou
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Ling
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Clinical Research Design Division, Clinical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Effects of exposure to immersive computer-generated virtual nature and control environments on affect and cognition. Sci Rep 2023; 13:220. [PMID: 36604527 PMCID: PMC9815073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26750-6] [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: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown that exposure to immersive virtual nature environments is able to induce positive affective and physiological effects. However, research on the effects on cognitive performance is scarce. Additionally, the effects of virtual nature exposure compared to a virtual control environment with a comparable amount of virtual objects have not been examined so far. Therefore, we conducted an experiment with 27 participants to study the psychological effects of such exposure. The virtual nature consisted of a 3D model of a typical forest environment, whereas the control environment was an abstract replication of the virtual forest environment. In both environments, a virtual wooden cart was used to transport the users from the start to the end of the virtual road. The typical background noise of moving such a cart was integrated into both environments as well. In addition, the virtual nature environment included typical forest sounds in the background, whereas the control condition did not have such background sounds. Both environments were compared with regard to their effects on cognitive performance (using trail making tests (TMTA, TMTB, and TMTB-A) as well as digit span forward and digit span backward tests), perceived restorativeness, mood, stress, sense of presence, and simulator sickness. The results showed that in comparison to the control environment, exposure to the virtual nature resulted in significantly higher cognitive performance, higher perceived restorativeness, higher positive affect, higher sense of presence, lower perceived stress, and lower simulator sickness.
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Chen L, Jia Y, Guo Y, Chen G, Ciren Z, Chen H, Duoji Z, Xu J, Yang T, Xu H, Feng S, Jiang Y, Guo B, Meng Q, Zhao X. Residential greenness associated with decreased risk of metabolic- dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: Evidence from a large population-based epidemiological study. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 249:114338. [PMID: 36508840 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous studies have shown that residential greenness positively correlates with enhanced health. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects about a quarter of the population while lacking specific treatments. Given that the association between green space and MAFLD is still unknown, we explored the association between residential greenness and MAFLD as well as the potential mechanisms based on the baseline survey of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC). METHODS Residential greenness was expressed as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). MAFLD was assessed through hepatic steatosis, the presence of overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and evidence of metabolic dysregulation. We used logistic regression to examine the association between NDVI/EVI and the prevalence of MAFLD. Moreover, we utilized causal mediation analyses to explore the role of physical activity and ambient particulate matters (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) on the association between residential greenness and MAFLD. RESULTS We included 72,368 participants from the CMEC and found that residential greenness was negatively associated with the prevalence of MAFLD. For an interquartile range (IQR) increase in NDVI500 m and EVI500 m, the odds ratio (OR) of MAFLD were 0.78 (95 %CI: 0.75, 0.81) and 0.81 (95 %CI: 0.78, 0.84), respectively. Greater association between residential greenness and MAFLD was observed among males. Air pollutants and physical activity could mediate a partial effect (8.5-22.9 %) of residential greenness on MAFLD. CONCLUSION Higher residential greenness was associated with decreased risk of MAFLD. Moreover, the association was greater among males. The protective effects of residential greenness may be achieved by mitigating the hazardous effects of air pollutants and encouraging physical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yiping Jia
- Department of Ultrasound, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Gongbo Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhuoga Ciren
- Tibet Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa, Tibet, China
| | - Heng Chen
- Chengdu Center for Disease Control & Prevention, China
| | - Zhuoma Duoji
- School of Medicine, Tibet University, Lhasa, Tibet, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Chongqing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Huan Xu
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiyu Feng
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ye Jiang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bing Guo
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Qiong Meng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics School of Public Health, Kunming Medical University, West Chunrong Road, Chenggong Zone, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
| | - Xing Zhao
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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What types of green space disrupt a lonelygenic environment? A cohort study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022; 58:745-755. [PMID: 36539570 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-022-02381-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Associations between green space type and social loneliness (a scarcity of people one feels they can depend on) were investigated in city-living participants in the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study. METHODS Availability of green space, tree canopy and open grass were measured as a percentage of land-use within 1.6 km road-network distance buffers using high-resolution data. Multilevel logistic regressions adjusted for confounding tested associations between each green space indicator with the odds of social loneliness at baseline (prevalence) and follow-up (incidence), adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic confounders. RESULTS The prevalence of social loneliness at baseline was 5.3% (n = 5627 /105,498). Incidence of social loneliness at follow-up was 3.4% (n = 1772/51,365). Adjusted regressions indicated reduced odds of prevalent (OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.92-0.98) and incident social loneliness with 10% more green space (OR = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.90- 0.96). Similar associations were found with a 10% increase in tree canopy for both prevalent (OR = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.88-0.95) and incident social loneliness (OR = 0.92, 95%CI = 0.88-0.97). Two-way interaction terms indicated effect modification by sex but not couple status. Among women, a 10% increase in total green space was associated with lower odds of prevalent (OR = 0.95, 0.91-0.95) and incident (OR = 0.89, 0.85-0.95) social loneliness. A 10% increase in tree canopy among women was associated with lower odds of prevalent (OR = 0.89, 085-0.92) and incident (OR = 0.85, 0.80-0.92) social loneliness. Meanwhile, a 10% increase in open grass among women was associated with higher odds of prevalent (OR = 1.08, 1.01-1.15) and incident (OR = 1.19, 1.03-1.35) social loneliness. Associations for men were statistically significant for a 10% increase in total green space (OR = 0.96, 0.92-0.99) and tree canopy (OR = 0.93, 0.90-0.97) for prevalent social loneliness only. CONCLUSION Urban greening and tree canopy restoration may reduce risks of social loneliness, perhaps especially in women.
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Rodriguez-Loureiro L, Verdoodt F, Lefebvre W, Vanpoucke C, Casas L, Gadeyne S. Long-term exposure to residential green spaces and site-specific cancer mortality in urban Belgium: A 13-year follow-up cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 170:107571. [PMID: 36219909 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Residing in greener areas may decrease the burden of chronic diseases, but the association with cancer is unclear. We studied the associations between residential green spaces and site-specific cancer mortality in urban Belgium. METHODOLOGY We linked the 2001 Belgian census, register mortality data for 2001-2014, and environmental information (green spaces and air pollution) at baseline residence (2001). We included residents from the largest Belgian urban areas aged ≥ 30 years at baseline. Exposure to residential green spaces was assessed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Urban Atlas, and perceived neighbourhood greenness (from the census). We used Cox proportional hazards models to obtain hazard ratios (HR) and their 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI) of the mortality risk from lung, colorectal, breast (in women) and prostate cancer (in men) per interquartile range increment in residential green spaces. We further analyzed the role of outdoor air pollution and effect modification by age and socioeconomic position (SEP) in main associations. RESULTS 2,441,566 individuals were included at baseline. During follow-up, 1.2 % died from lung cancer, 0.6 % from colorectal cancer, 0.8 % from breast cancer, and 0.6 % from prostate cancer. After adjustment, higher exposure to green spaces was associated with a reduced mortality risk from lung cancer and breast cancer [e.g., for NDVI within 300 m, HR:0.946 (95 %CI:0.924,0.970), and HR:0.927 (95 %CI:0.892,0.963), respectively], but not with colorectal or prostate cancer mortality. For the latter, a suggestive hazardous effect of green spaces was found. Air pollution seemed to have only a marginal role. Beneficial effects of greenspace were generally stronger in < 65-year-old, but no clear trend by SEP was found. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that residing in green areas could decrease mortality risk from lung and breast cancer, potentially independent from air pollution. Future studies should consider different indicators of greenspace exposure and investigate potential pathways underlying the associations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Freija Verdoodt
- Research Department, Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wouter Lefebvre
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Lidia Casas
- Social Epidemiology and Health Policy, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development (IMDO), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Gadeyne
- Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Zewdie HY, Whetten K, Dubie ME, Kenea B, Bekele T, Temesgen C, Molla W, Puffer ES, Ostermann J, Hobbie AM, Gray CL. The association between urban greenspace and psychological health among young adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114258. [PMID: 36084675 PMCID: PMC10038305 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Psychological disorders are emerging as health priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically Ethiopia. Urban greenspace - parks, trees, and other vegetation integrated into urban form - may facilitate population psychological health, but is largely understudied outside high-income countries. We explore greenspace in relation to psychological health among young adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHOD Greenspace exposure was calculated using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from publicly available satellite imagery (2018-2019). We used tests of spatial clustering to characterize greenspace distribution. Derived NDVI values were linked to Positive Outcomes for Orphans study participants to explore cross-sectional associations between greenspace exposure and psychological health (measured 2019-2021). Two continuous scores of psychological health were examined: total difficulties from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and depressive symptoms from the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Multilevel generalized linear regression, nested by administrative units, was used to estimate the association between greenspace and psychological health. We also explored effect modification by gender and having income. RESULTS We found greenspace is spatially clustered in Addis Ababa, with high greenspace density in the northeast region and low greenspace density in the center of the city. Our findings suggest residing in greener areas is associated with fewer emotional and behavioral difficulties (β = -1.89; 95% CI: -3.50, -0.29), but not significantly associated with depressive symptomology (β = -0.61; 95% CI: -2.33, 1.11). We observed stronger associations between greenspace and total difficulties among those reporting any income and among males, and for the association between greenspace and depression symptomology among males. CONCLUSION We offer initial exploration into the role of greenspace in psychological well-being in Addis Ababa, with potential implications for urban communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Further research should continue to explore how the built and natural environment could be leveraged in similar settings to promote population psychological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiwot Y Zewdie
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, USA.
| | | | | | - Berhanu Kenea
- Stand For Vulnerable Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tolesa Bekele
- Stand For Vulnerable Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Wesene Molla
- Stand For Vulnerable Organization, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eve S Puffer
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, USA
| | - Jan Ostermann
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, USA; University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Amy M Hobbie
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, USA
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Fernández Núñez MB, Campos Suzman L, Maneja R, Bach A, Marquet O, Anguelovski I, Knobel P. The Differences by Sex and Gender in the Relationship Between Urban Greenness and Cardiometabolic Health: A Systematic Review. J Urban Health 2022; 99:1054-1067. [PMID: 36180810 PMCID: PMC9727044 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00685-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In an increasingly urbanized world, where cardiometabolic issues in cities have raised public health concerns, urban greenness is known to be beneficial for some of the most common health issues. However, the examination of the contribution of sex and gender regarding the benefits of urban greenness for people's cardiometabolic health is lacking. For that reason, we conducted a systematic review of previous literature on the topic following the PRISMA methodology. Additionally, we assessed the quality of the included articles, which we found satisfactory as most papers were of very good or good quality. We explored the relationship between urban greenness exposure and cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Results suggest that urban greenness is protective against cardiovascular risk factors, diseases, and mortality. When stratifying results by sex and gender, findings point to urban greenness being more beneficial for women and females in stroke and cardiovascular risk factors, except for hypertension and lipid accumulation product. On the other hand, males were more protected by urban greenness in terms of cardiovascular diseases and CVD-related mortality, thus proving that sex and gender health inequalities exist. Furthermore, looking towards the future, research needs to use the proper terminology for sex and gender and policy makers should design urban greenness with a gender perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lia Campos Suzman
- Environmental Science and Technology Institute (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Maneja
- Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia, Ctra. de St. Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280, Solsona, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Laboratory (EH2 Lab), Ctra. de St. Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280, Solsona, Spain
- Geography Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Bach
- Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia, Ctra. de St. Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280, Solsona, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Laboratory (EH2 Lab), Ctra. de St. Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280, Solsona, Spain
| | - Oriol Marquet
- Geography Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabelle Anguelovski
- Environmental Science and Technology Institute (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Knobel
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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Wang R, Yang L, Yao Y, Wu W. Exploring the association between neighbourhood streetscape vegetation and subjective well-being in a high-density built environment: Evidence from Beijing, China. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e5457-e5469. [PMID: 35947098 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have disentangled the perceived benefits of vegetation on subjective well-being (SWB). Yet, scant attention has been paid to the joint effect of vegetation and building density on SWB. This study explores the relationship between streetscape vegetation (SV), building density and SWB in Beijing, China. Our analysis relies on rich measures of street view data to assess SV exposure at the neighbourhood level. Notably, we distinguish between trees (SV-tree) and grasses (SV-grass) when evaluating SV metrics. The results suggest that streetscape trees and grasses are positively associated with SWB, though estimated effects are dependent upon tree and grass density exposures. We also find that the effects of streetscape trees and grass are moderated by building density in the neighbourhood. Additional decomposition analysis provides the insight that the well-being implications of street vegetation and building density are varied significantly by individual sociodemographic characteristics such as sex, age and income. The findings of this study suggest the importance of considering density in SV planning and land use policies to enhance people's quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Wang
- UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health/Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Linchuan Yang
- Department of Urban and Rural Planning, School of Architecture and Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yao Yao
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Wenjie Wu
- School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Tomasso LP, Chen JT. Toward a Theory of Nature Experience and Health. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2022; 14:282-297. [PMID: 36590863 PMCID: PMC9793414 DOI: 10.1089/eco.2022.0005] [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: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This article presents an integrated theoretical framework to study the socioenvironmental attributes of the nature experience as a basic health behavior. After first reviewing existing literature on theories behind nature exposure, we discuss social cognitive theory (SCT) to explain individual nature experience through the model's triadic dynamic of environment, cognitions, and behaviors. We then expand beyond SCT's focus on the individual to examine structural and societal spheres of influence on nature experience found in ecological systems theory and ecosocial theory. In moving from proximal to distal influences, we identify the core constructs of each theory that may reinforce or deter decisions inclining individuals toward nature engagement. In synthesizing aspects of these three theories, we propose an integrated theoretical framework of nature experience distinguished by three ideas. First, individual-level formative influences in nature pervade higher level ecologies as a learned social behavior. Second, nature experience happens within multiple systems and timepoints. Third, social relationships within historical processes shape contextual factors of the nature experience, resulting in disparities in nature access and nature responses that manifest heterogeneously. Theorizing behind nature experience can inform why this occurs. We offer suggestions for further research to build on the groundwork put forth here: for hypothesizing around present observations, for collecting data to confirm and/or refute parts of the theory, and for further hypothesis generation inspired by the theory to inform the research agenda. In conclusion, we consider the practical implications of theory underlying nature experience as a health behavior relevant to research, interventions, and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Powers Tomasso
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Population Health Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Address correspondence to: Linda Powers Tomasso, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jarvis T. Chen
- Population Health Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Fu E, Zhou J, Ren Y, Deng X, Li L, Li X, Li X. Exploring the influence of residential courtyard space landscape elements on people's emotional health in an immersive virtual environment. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1017993. [PMID: 36388396 PMCID: PMC9650291 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1017993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A good residential courtyard space not only brings people a psychological feeling of emotional pleasure but also attracts people to actively engage in more physical activities, which is of great significance to improving people's physical and mental health. Green vegetation and fitness facilities as the most preferred landscape elements in residential courtyard spaces and their effects on people's emotional health have not been further investigated. In this research, a virtual experiment was constructed in a residential courtyard space in Chengdu City, China, and electrodermal sensors were used to measure the real-time emotional changes of people in different virtual scenarios to analyze the effects of two landscape elements, green vegetation and fitness facilities, on people's emotional health, and the differences of such effects among different genders and ages. The results confirm that the combination of virtual reality technology and wearable physiological sensor measurement technology could effectively identify health-promoting landscape elements in urban environments; In residential courtyard spaces, green vegetation is more emotionally healthy than fitness facilities, and fitness facilities have better emotional health benefits for men and people over 30 years of age. The results of the study provide a quantitative basis for the healthier design and transformation of residential courtyard spaces for both green vegetation and fitness facilities.
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Mattisson K, Axmon A, Carlsson G, Malmgren Fänge A, Lethin C, Stroh E. Sociodemographic Variations in the Availability of Urban Green Spaces in an Older Swedish Population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12651. [PMID: 36231951 PMCID: PMC9566372 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912651] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Urban green spaces (UGS) can have a positive impact on health and thereby potentially ease the strain on the health care system. However, the availability and benefits seem to vary between different sociodemographic groups. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between sociodemographic factors and availability to UGS among people aged 65 years or older. Data on sociodemographic variables and residential coordinates were obtained for three cross-sectional cohorts in two cities (Malmö and Kristianstad) and three years (2010, 2015, and 2019). Three measures of urban green spaces; total (UGS), public (PGS) and quiet (QGS), within 300 m were used to determine availability. The results indicated higher availability to both total and publicly available urban green spaces for groups with lower socioeconomic status (SES) is positive from a health perspective. However, availability to high qualitative publicly available urban green spaces, from a noise perspective, was lower, indicating the opposite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer Mattisson
- Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Axmon
- EPI@LUND (Epidemiology, Population Studies, and Infrastructures at Lund University), Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Gunilla Carlsson
- Department of Health Science, Lund University, 222 40 Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Connie Lethin
- Department of Health Science, Lund University, 222 40 Lund, Sweden
| | - Emilie Stroh
- Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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Zare Sakhvidi MJ, Yang J, Mehrparvar AH, Dzhambov AM, Ebrahimi A, Dadvand P, Jacquemin B. Exposure to greenspace and cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality: A systematic review and meta-analyses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156180. [PMID: 35618130 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature on the association between greenspace exposure and all-sites and site-specific cancer incidence, prevalence, and mortality in adults. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for original articles published, without language restriction until September 2021. We assessed the risk of bias in each study and the overall quality of evidence for exposure-outcome pairs that were reported in two or more studies. Out of the 18 included studies, cross-sectional studies were the most common study design (n = 8), and most of the studies were conducted in Europe (n = 8). In terms of risk of bias, the majority of cohorts (four out of six) and case-control studies (three out of four) were of good or very good quality, and cross-sectional studies were mostly (five out of eight) of poor quality. Outcomes (incidence, prevalence, mortality) on different cancer sites were reported: lung cancer (n = 9), prostate cancer (n = 4), breast cancer (n = 4), skin cancer (n = 3), colorectal cancer (n = 2), all-sites cancer (n = 2), brain cancer (n = 1), mouth and throat cancer (n = 1), and esophageal cancer (n = 1). The meta-analyses for the breast, lung, and prostate cancer incidence did not show statistically significant associations (for example for breast cancer: hazard ratio = 0.83; 95% confidence interval: 0.47-1.48). For skin cancer, the available evidence suggests that greenspace could be a potential risk factor. For the other cancers, the evidence was non-conclusive. The overall quality of evidence of all of the exposure-outcome pairs was very low. Given the wide confidence interval of the pooled estimates and very low quality of evidence, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Future large and longitudinal studies are needed to assess the potential association of greenspace exposure with cancers, considering types and quality of greenspace, evaluation of cancer sub-types, and adjustment for a sufficient set of covariates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Javad Zare Sakhvidi
- Occupational Health Department, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran; Univ Rennes, INSERM, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Jun Yang
- School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China
| | | | - Angel M Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - AliAsghar Ebrahimi
- Environmental Health Department, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Fernández Almagro, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bénédicte Jacquemin
- Univ Rennes, INSERM, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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Wang J, Chen G, Hou J, Wei D, Liu P, Nie L, Fan K, Wang L, Xu Q, Song Y, Wang M, Huo W, Jing T, Li W, Guo Y, Wang C, Mao Z. Associations of residential greenness, ambient air pollution, biological sex, and glucocorticoids levels in rural China. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 242:113945. [PMID: 35999771 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To evaluate the associations between residential greenness and glucocorticoid levels and whether air pollutants and sex modify the relationship between greenness and glucocorticoid level in Chinese rural adults. METHODS We collected cross-sectional survey data from 6055 participants from the Henan Rural cohort. The three-year average residential greenness for participants was assessed using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values from a satellite platform. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was employed to quantify the concentrations of glucocorticoids, which were measured by morning blood draw after at least 8 hr of fasting. A random forest model was employed to obtain the average concentrations of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10. A general linear regression model was performed to estimate the associations of NDVI500-m values with cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, and cortisone. Furthermore, interaction plots were used to present the interaction effects of particulate matter, sex, and green space on glucocorticoid levels. RESULTS After adjusting for multiple variables, an elevated average NDVI500-m value in the total population was associated with a decrease in cortisol levels (β = -0.063, 95 % confidence interval (CI): - 0.118, - 0.008), and 11-deoxycortisol levels (β = -0.118, 95 % CI: -0.190, -0.047), as well as an increase in cortisone levels (β = 0.130, 95 % CI: 0.079, 0.181). By adding the interaction terms of air pollutants and residential greenness into the regression model, interaction effects between air pollutants and residential greenness were found (cortisol, PM2.5: P interaction=:0.018; PM10: P interaction=0.016; 11-deoxycortisol, all pollutants: P interaction< 0.001), suggesting that the protective effect of residential greenness on serum glucocorticoids disappeared accompanying with increased concentrations of particulate matter. Moreover, trends towards modification in the association between green space and glucocorticoid levels were also evident by sex, but these did not reach statistical significance (for all glucocorticoids: P interaction> 0.05). CONCLUSION Long-term exposure to green space was negatively correlated with cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol levels, and positively correlated with cortisone levels. There may be sex differences in these associations. Moreover, the protective effect of residential greenness on serum glucocorticoids was altered by high levels of particulate matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Gongbo Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jian Hou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Dandan Wei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Pengling Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Luting Nie
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Keliang Fan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Lulu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Qingqing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Mian Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Wenqian Huo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Tao Jing
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Wenjie Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Yuming Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chongjian Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | - Zhenxing Mao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China.
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Yao Y, Yin H, Xu C, Chen D, Shao L, Guan Q, Wang R. Assessing myocardial infarction severity from the urban environment perspective in Wuhan, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115438. [PMID: 35653844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Health inequalities are globally widespread due to the regional socioeconomic inequalities. Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading health problem causing deaths worldwide. Yet medical services for it are often inequitably distributed by region. Moreover, studies concerning MI's potential spatial risk factors generally suffer from difficulties in focusing on too few factors, inappropriate models, and coarse spatial grain of data. To address these issues, this paper integrates registered 1098 MI cases and urban multi-source spatio-temporal big data, and spatially analyses the risk factors for MI severity by applying an advanced interpretable model, the random forest algorithm (RFA)-based SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) model. In addition, a community-scale model between spatio-temporal risk factors and MI cases is constructed to predict the MI severity of all communities in Wuhan, China. The results suggest that those risk factors (i.e., age of patients, medical quality, temperature changes, air pollution and urban habitat) affect the MI severity at the community scale. We found that Wuhan residents in the downtown area are at risk for high MI severity, and the surrounding suburb areas show a donut-shape pattern of risk for medium-to-high MI severity. These patterns draw our attention to the impact of spatial environmental risk factors on MI severity. Thus, this paper provides three recommendations for urban planning to reduce the risk and mortality from severe MI in the aspect of policy implication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yao
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, Hubei province, PR China.
| | - Hanyu Yin
- School of Remote Sensing and Information Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei province, PR China.
| | - Changwu Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, PR China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, 430060, PR China.
| | - Dongsheng Chen
- China Regional Coordinated Development and Rural Construction Institute, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong Province, PR China.
| | - Ledi Shao
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, Hubei province, PR China.
| | - Qingfeng Guan
- School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, Hubei province, PR China.
| | - Ruoyu Wang
- UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health/Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
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Roscoe C, Mackay C, Gulliver J, Hodgson S, Cai Y, Vineis P, Fecht D. Associations of private residential gardens versus other greenspace types with cardiovascular and respiratory disease mortality: Observational evidence from UK Biobank. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107427. [PMID: 35905597 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Longitudinal evidence linking urban greenspace to reduced rates of all-cause and cause-specific mortality has mostly been established using greenness measures of limited specificity such as vegetation indices. Evidence on specific green space types, including private residential gardens is less well established. METHODS We examined associations of greenspace with all-cause, non-injury, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and respiratory disease deaths in UK Biobank - a national prospective cohort of adults with linked Office for National Statistics mortality records. We included private residential gardens and other greenspace types, e.g., public parks, sport facilities, using categories from Ordnance Survey MasterMap™ Greenspace. We used Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for individual and area-level covariates, and stratified analyses by sex, household income, and area-level deprivation. In sensitivity analyses, we further adjusted for air pollution, road-traffic noise, indirect tobacco smoke exposure, and physical activity, and restricted analyses to non-movers. RESULTS In 232,926 participants, we observed 13,586 all-cause, 13,159 non-injury, 2,796 cardiovascular (CVD), and 968 respiratory disease deaths. Private residential garden cover showed inverse associations with all-cause, non-injury, CVD, and chronic respiratory disease mortality, after adjustment for covariates and other types of greenspace, with hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals of 0.94 (0.91, 0.97), 0.95 (0.92, 0.97), 0.92 (0.86, 0.98) and 0.87 (0.78, 0.98), respectively, per interquartile range (IQR) increase in private residential garden cover (IQR = 21.6 % increase within 100 m buffer). Other greenspace types showed weaker inverse associations with CVD and chronic respiratory disease mortality than private residential gardens. Sex, household income, and area level deprivation modified associations. Findings were robust to sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION Our finding that private residential gardens substantially contributed to inverse associations of total greenspace with premature mortality has implications for public health and urban planning. Inequities in access, ownership, views and use of private residential gardens, and potential health inequities, should be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Roscoe
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Catriona Mackay
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - John Gulliver
- Centre for Environment, Sustainability and Health, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Bennett Building, University Road, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Susan Hodgson
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Yutong Cai
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Deep Medicine Programme, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3BD, UK
| | - Paolo Vineis
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Daniela Fecht
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
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Tae J, Jeong D, Chon J. How Can Apartment-Complex Landscaping Space Improve Residents' Psychological Well-Being?: The Case of the Capital Region in South Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10231. [PMID: 36011865 PMCID: PMC9408058 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610231] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban green spaces have a positive impact on citizens' mental health and have contributed to improving their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Korea, where more than 50% of all households live in apartments, apartment-complex landscaping space plays the role of urban green space. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among a perceived restorative environment, restorative experience, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being by conducting a survey between residents living in apartments with landscape space. More specifically, an online survey was conducted from 8 to 15 June 2021 among residents in apartment complexes (500 households or more) located in the capital region in South Korea. We applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using 220 samples to test the causal relationship presented in the conceptual model of this study. The results revealed that residents' perceptions of the restorative environment of landscape space, including fascination, being away, and coherence had positive effects on restorative attention. Among the restorative environmental factors, the higher the "being away", the greater the effect on restorative attention. Second, the effects of fascination and coherence on life satisfaction were mediated by restorative attention. Third, restorative attention and life satisfaction significantly influenced psychological well-being. Additionally, life satisfaction acts as a mediator in the relationship between restorative attention and psychological well-being. In summary, this study has theoretical implications, in that it explores the effects of apartment complex landscaping space as urban green spaces on residents' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongwook Tae
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Daeyoung Jeong
- Division of Co-Prosperity & Balanced Development, Gyeonggi Research Institute, Suwon 16202, Korea
| | - Jinhyung Chon
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
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46
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Pouya S, Aghlmand M. Evaluation of urban green space per capita with new remote sensing and geographic information system techniques and the importance of urban green space during the COVID-19 pandemic. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:633. [PMID: 35922695 PMCID: PMC9361964 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10298-z] [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: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A recently conducted study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged access to urban green space for the public over the prevalence of COVID-19 in that exposure to urban green space can positively affect the physical and mental health, including the reduction rate of heart disease, obesity, stress, stroke, and depression. COVID-19 has foregrounded the inadequacy of green space in populated cities. It has also highlighted the extant inequities so as to unequal access to urban green space both quantitatively and qualitatively. In this regard, it seems that one of the problems related to Malatya is the uncoordinated distribution of green space in different parts of the city. Therefore, knowing the quantity and quality of these spaces in each region can play an effective role in urban planning. The aim of the present study has been to evaluate urban green space per capita and to investigate its distribution based on the population of the districts of Battalgazi county in Malatya city through developing an integrated methodology (remote sensing and geographic information system). Accordingly, in Google Earth Engine by images of Sentinel-1 and PlanetScope satellites, it was calculated different indexes (NDVI, EVI, PSSR, GNDVI, and NDWI). The data set was prepared and then by combining different data, classification was performed according to support vector machine algorithm. From the landscaping maps obtained, the map was selected with the highest accuracy (overall accuracy: 94.43; and kappa coefficient: 90.5). Finally, by the obtained last map, the distribution of urban green space per capita and their functions in Battalgazi county and its districts were evaluated. The results of the study showed that the existing urban green spaces in the Battalgazi/Malatya were not distributed evenly on the basis of the districts. The per capita of urban green space is twenty-four regions which is more than 9m2 and in twenty-three ones is less than 9m2. The recommendation of this study was that Türkiye city planners and landscape designers should replan and redesign the quality and equal distribution of urban green spaces, especially during and following COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, drawing on the Google Earth Engine cloud system, which has revolutionized GIS and remote sensing, is recommended to be used in land use land cover modeling. It is straightforward to access information and analyze them quickly in Google Earth Engine. The published codes in this study makes it possible to conduct further relevant studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sima Pouya
- Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Department of Landscape Architecture, İnönü University, Malatya, Türkiye
| | - Majid Aghlmand
- Civil Engineering Department, Eskişehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Türkiye
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47
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Bereziartua A, Chen J, de Hoogh K, Rodopoulou S, Andersen ZJ, Bellander T, Brandt J, Fecht D, Forastiere F, Gulliver J, Hertel O, Hoffmann B, Arthur Hvidtfeldt U, Verschuren WMM, Jöckel KH, Jørgensen JT, Katsouyanni K, Ketzel M, Hjertager Krog N, Brynedal B, Leander K, Liu S, Ljungman P, Faure E, Magnusson PKE, Nagel G, Pershagen G, Peters A, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Renzi M, Rizzuto D, Samoli E, van der Schouw YT, Schramm S, Severi G, Stafoggia M, Strak M, Sørensen M, Tjønneland A, Weinmayr G, Wolf K, Zitt E, Brunekreef B, Hoek G. Exposure to surrounding greenness and natural-cause and cause-specific mortality in the ELAPSE pooled cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 166:107341. [PMID: 35717714 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of studies have shown higher greenness exposure associated with reduced mortality risks, but few controlled for spatially correlated air pollution and traffic noise exposures. We aim to address this research gap in the ELAPSE pooled cohort. METHODS Mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in a 300-m grid cell and 1-km radius were assigned to participants' baseline home addresses as a measure of surrounding greenness exposure. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association of NDVI exposure with natural-cause and cause-specific mortality, adjusting for a number of potential confounders including socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors at individual and area-levels. We further assessed the associations between greenness exposure and mortality after adjusting for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and road traffic noise. RESULTS The pooled study population comprised 327,388 individuals who experienced 47,179 natural-cause deaths during 6,374,370 person-years of follow-up. The mean NDVI in the pooled cohort was 0.33 (SD 0.1) and 0.34 (SD 0.1) in the 300-m grid and 1-km buffer. In the main fully adjusted model, 0.1 unit increment of NDVI inside 300-m grid was associated with 5% lower risk of natural-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.95 (95% CI: 0.94, 0.96)). The associations attenuated after adjustment for air pollution [HR (95% CI): 0.97 (0.96, 0.98) adjusted for PM2.5; 0.98 (0.96, 0.99) adjusted for NO2]. Additional adjustment for traffic noise hardly affected the associations. Consistent results were observed for NDVI within 1-km buffer. After adjustment for air pollution, NDVI was inversely associated with diabetes, respiratory and lung cancer mortality, yet with wider 95% confidence intervals. No association with cardiovascular mortality was found. CONCLUSIONS We found a significant inverse association between surrounding greenness and natural-cause mortality, which remained after adjusting for spatially correlated air pollution and traffic noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Bereziartua
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Jie Chen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Kees de Hoogh
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Sophia Rodopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Zorana J Andersen
- Section of Environment and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Tom Bellander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jørgen Brandt
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; iClimate - interdisciplinary Center for Climate Change, Aarhus University, Denmark.
| | - Daniela Fecht
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Francesco Forastiere
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service / ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy; School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - John Gulliver
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK; Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability & School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - Ole Hertel
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Barbara Hoffmann
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | | | - W M Monique Verschuren
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands and Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Karl-Heinz Jöckel
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Jeanette T Jørgensen
- Section of Environment and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Matthias Ketzel
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark; Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
| | - Norun Hjertager Krog
- Section of Air Pollution and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway.
| | - Boel Brynedal
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Karin Leander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Shuo Liu
- Section of Environment and Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Elodie Faure
- University Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Gustave Roussy, "Exposome and Heredity" team, CESP UMR1018, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Patrik K E Magnusson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gabriele Nagel
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Göran Pershagen
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; Chair of Epidemiology, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany.
| | - Ole Raaschou-Nielsen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Matteo Renzi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service / ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
| | - Debora Rizzuto
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Yvonne T van der Schouw
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Sara Schramm
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
| | - Gianluca Severi
- University Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Gustave Roussy, "Exposome and Heredity" team, CESP UMR1018, 94805 Villejuif, France; Department of Statistics, Computer Science and Applications "G. Parenti" (DISIA), University of Florence, Italy.
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service / ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy.
| | - Maciej Strak
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Natural Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Anne Tjønneland
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Diet, Genes and Environment (DGE), Denmark.
| | - Gudrun Weinmayr
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Kathrin Wolf
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Emanuel Zitt
- Agency for Preventive and Social Medicine (aks), Bregenz, Austria; Department of Internal Medicine 3, LKH Feldkirch, Feldkirch, Austria.
| | - Bert Brunekreef
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Gerard Hoek
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Mueller W, Milner J, Loh M, Vardoulakis S, Wilkinson P. Exposure to urban greenspace and pathways to respiratory health: An exploratory systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 829:154447. [PMID: 35283125 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Urban greenspace may have a beneficial or adverse effect on respiratory health. Our objective was to perform an exploratory systematic review to synthesise the evidence and identify the potential causal pathways relating urban greenspace and respiratory health. METHODS We followed PRISMA guidelines on systematic reviews and searched five databases for eligible studies during 2000-2021. We incorporated a broad range of urban greenspace and respiratory health search terms, including both observational and experimental studies. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias, assessed using the Navigation Guide criteria, were performed independently by two authors. We performed a narrative synthesis and discuss suggested pathways to respiratory health. RESULTS We identified 108 eligible papers (n = 104 observational, n = 4 experimental). The most common greenspace indicators were the overall greenery or vegetation (also known as greenness), green land use/land cover of physical area classes (e.g., parks, forests), and tree canopy cover. A wide range of respiratory health indicators were studied, with asthma prevalence being the most common. Two thirds (n = 195) of the associations in these studies were positive (i.e., beneficial) with health, with 31% (n = 91) statistically significant; only 9% (n = 25) of reported associations were negative (i.e., adverse) with health and statistically significant. The most consistent positive evidence was apparent for respiratory mortality. There were n = 35 (32%) 'probably low' and n = 73 (68%) 'probably high' overall ratings of bias. Hypothesised causal pathways for health benefits included lower air pollution, more physically active populations, and exposure to microbial diversity; suggested mechanisms with poorer health included exposure to pollen and other aeroallergens. CONCLUSION Many studies showed positive association between urban greenspace and respiratory health, especially lower respiratory mortality; this is suggestive, but not conclusive, of causal effects. Results underscore the importance of contextual factors, greenspace metric employed, and the potential bias of subtle selection factors, which should be explored further.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Mueller
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK.
| | - James Milner
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Miranda Loh
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Australia
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49
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Dandolo L, Hartig C, Telkmann K, Horstmann S, Schwettmann L, Selsam P, Schneider A, Bolte G. Decision Tree Analyses to Explore the Relevance of Multiple Sex/Gender Dimensions for the Exposure to Green Spaces: Results from the KORA INGER Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127476. [PMID: 35742725 PMCID: PMC9224469 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Recently, attention has been drawn to the need to integrate sex/gender more comprehensively into environmental health research. Considering theoretical approaches, we define sex/gender as a multidimensional concept based on intersectionality. However, operationalizing sex/gender through multiple covariates requires the usage of statistical methods that are suitable for handling such complex data. We therefore applied two different decision tree approaches: classification and regression trees (CART) and conditional inference trees (CIT). We explored the relevance of multiple sex/gender covariates for the exposure to green spaces, measured both subjectively and objectively. Data from 3742 participants from the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) study were analyzed within the INGER (Integrating gender into environmental health research) project. We observed that the participants’ financial situation and discrimination experience was relevant for their access to high quality public green spaces, while the urban/rural context was most relevant for the general greenness in the residential environment. None of the covariates operationalizing the individual sex/gender self-concept were relevant for differences in exposure to green spaces. Results were largely consistent for both CART and CIT. Most importantly we showed that decision tree analyses are useful for exploring the relevance of multiple sex/gender dimensions and their interactions for environmental exposures. Further investigations in larger urban areas with less access to public green spaces and with a study population more heterogeneous with respect to age and social disparities may add more information about the relevance of multiple sex/gender dimensions for the exposure to green spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Dandolo
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; (C.H.); (K.T.); (S.H.); (G.B.)
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-421-218-68826
| | - Christina Hartig
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; (C.H.); (K.T.); (S.H.); (G.B.)
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Klaus Telkmann
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; (C.H.); (K.T.); (S.H.); (G.B.)
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Sophie Horstmann
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; (C.H.); (K.T.); (S.H.); (G.B.)
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Lars Schwettmann
- Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
- Department of Economics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Peter Selsam
- Department Monitoring and Exploration Technologies, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Alexandra Schneider
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany;
| | - Gabriele Bolte
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany; (C.H.); (K.T.); (S.H.); (G.B.)
- Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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50
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Grigoletto A, Mauro M, Oppio A, Greco G, Fischetti F, Cataldi S, Toselli S. Effects of Nordic Walking Training on Anthropometric, Body Composition and Functional Parameters in the Middle-Aged Population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127433. [PMID: 35742680 PMCID: PMC9224194 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Nordic walking (NW) is an easy physical exercise that is usually proposed for clinical populations and for the elderly. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a period of NW training in a non-clinical middle-aged population on anthropometric, body composition and functional parameters. A pre-test/post-test study design was conducted on 77 participants: 56 women (72.7%, age 55.53 ± 9.73 years) and 21 men (27.3%, age 60.51 ± 8.15 years). The measurements were carried out with physical tests at the baseline and at the follow up. Participants did two weekly NW training sessions of about 60 min each. A questionnaire was administered to evaluate their feelings after the training period. Paired Students' test was carried out to evaluate the pre-post differences, and the analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the questionnaire. Participants had significantly less stress and anxiety after the NW training. Body fat parameters showed a significant decrease, especially for women. Phase angle and strength of lower body presented a significant increase in both sexes after the training period. In conclusion, NW shows many potential benefits also for the nonclinical population and could be an important exercise to remain active and to maintain a good health condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Grigoletto
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.G.); (S.T.)
| | - Mario Mauro
- Department of Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Alberto Oppio
- School of Pharmacy, Biotechnology and sport Science, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Gianpiero Greco
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
- Correspondence: (G.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Francesco Fischetti
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
- Correspondence: (G.G.); (F.F.)
| | - Stefania Cataldi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Stefania Toselli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.G.); (S.T.)
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