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Wei H, Renson A, Huang X, Thorpe LE, Spoer BR, Charles SL. Assessing potential benefits of visits to neighborhoods with higher tree canopy coverage using mobility data: Associations with cardiovascular health outcomes in twenty US metropolitan areas. Health Place 2024; 89:103299. [PMID: 38936045 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on health benefits due to exposure to green space, such as tree canopy coverage, has predominantly focused on canopy coverage in home neighborhoods. Yet exposures to tree canopy coverage in other spaces visited during the week or on weekends outside the home neighborhoods remains largely unexplored. OBJECTIVES We examined whether differences in coverage levels of tree canopy in neighborhoods visited compared to home neighborhoods was associated with lower prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, adjusting for exposure to home canopy coverage. We further investigated if the associations varied across levels of home canopy coverage, and if they were more pronounced on weekdays or weekends. METHODS We used 2018 mobile phone data from the twenty largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). For each home census tract, we derived a weighted tree canopy coverage exposure from all visited tracts based on the proportion of visits to other tracts by home tract residents. We subtracted home canopy coverage from the weighted canopy coverage in each of the visited tracts to calculate tract-specific differences. We evaluated associations between differences in tree canopy coverage and prevalence of CHD and stroke via spatial error models, adjusting for tract-level home canopy coverage, MSA, socioeconomic and built environment characteristics. RESULTS For every ten-percentage-point increase in tree canopy coverage in visited tracts relative to home tracts, there was a 0.32-0.34% decrease in stroke prevalence. Association with CHD prevalence was not observed after adjusting for spatial autocorrelation. Variations between weekdays and weekends were minimal. The difference in tree canopy coverage was associated with CHD prevalence only for home tracts with low tree canopy coverage, while the difference was associated with stroke prevalence across home tracts with low, moderate, and high tree canopy coverage, with diminishing effect size. DISCUSSION This study identified that greater tree canopy coverage in visited neighborhoods relative to home neighborhoods was associated with lower stroke prevalence, and associations varied across home neighborhoods with different tree canopy coverage levels. It emphasized the need to factor in the neighborhood mobility networks in urban planning initiatives to promote cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxue Wei
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA.
| | - Audrey Renson
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Xiao Huang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lorna E Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Ben R Spoer
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Suzanne L Charles
- Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Donovan GH, Derrien M, Wendel K, Michael YL. Old lessons for new science: How sacred-tree metaphors can inform studies of the public-health benefits of the natural environment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35111. [PMID: 39166085 PMCID: PMC11333903 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Many studies have identified an association between exposure to the natural environment and improved public-health outcomes. However, much of this observational work lacks a theoretical foundation, so we look to the humanities for a stronger basis for green-health research, examining how trees have been used as religious metaphors and symbols for health and wellbeing. In particular, the tree of life, sacred trees, and other religious symbols provide a promising theoretical basis for green-health research. Based on this review, we propose the value of incorporating attributes such as vegetation species and size in exposure metrics, and considering the interactions between exposure attributes (e.g., species) and individual attributes (e.g., culture).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monika Derrien
- USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kendra Wendel
- USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Portland, OR, 97205, USA
| | - Yvonne L. Michael
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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3
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Rieves ES, Reid CE, Carlson K, Li X. Do environmental attitudes and personal characteristics influence how people perceive their exposure to green spaces? LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING 2024; 248:105080. [PMID: 39070190 PMCID: PMC11271171 DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Background This study explores the relationship between perceived and objective greenspace exposure, and how sociodemographic traits and environmental attitudes influence peoples' perceptions of greenspace. Methods We leveraged a cross-sectional survey on greenspace exposure among residents of Denver, CO that ran from November 2019 through April 2021. We measured objective greenspace using the average NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), average percent vegetation, and median GVI (green view index) within 300, 500, and 1,000 m of participants' residences, and in participant-drawn polygons representing their neighborhoods. We measured perceived greenspace exposure using survey responses from questions about greenspace abundance, visibility, access, usage, and quality near participants' homes. We assessed relationships between perceived and objective greenspace measures using linear models. Then, we used latent class analysis to create perceived greenspace exposure classes, and used linear models to evaluate the relationship between these classes and sociodemographic and environmental attitude variables. Results We found that the relationship between perceived and objective measures (NDVI in the 300-meter buffer) was strongest for abundance (OR: 5.14, [4.0, 6.28]) and visibility (OR: 3.71, [2.58, 4.84]) compared to perceived access (OR: 2.17, [1.02, 3.32]), usage (OR: 2.28, [1.19, 3.37]), and quality (OR: 2.33, [1.25, 3.41]). In fully adjusted models, objective greenspace exposure and environmental attitudes predicted perceived greenspace exposure classes, but sociodemographic variables-other than age-did not. Conclusion Our work suggests that objective greenspace exposure is only one factor influencing peoples' perceived greenspace exposure, and that environmental attitude variables may play an additional role in shaping peoples' perceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma S. Rieves
- Geography Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Colleen E. Reid
- Geography Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kate Carlson
- Geography Department, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Xiaojiang Li
- Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Manzini J, Hoshika Y, Sicard P, De Marco A, Ferrini F, Pallozzi E, Neri L, Baraldi R, Paoletti E, Moura BB. Detection of morphological and eco-physiological traits of ornamental woody species to assess their potential Net O 3 uptake. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118844. [PMID: 38579998 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118844] [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: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Urban greening can improve cities' air quality by filtering the main gaseous pollutants such as tropospheric ozone (O3). However, the pollutant removal capacity offered by woody species strongly depends on eco-physiological and morphological traits. Woody species with higher stomatal conductance (gs) can remove more gases from the atmosphere, but other species can worsen air quality due to high O3 forming potential (OFP), based on their emitting rates of biogenic volatile organic compounds (bVOCs) and Leaf Mass per Area (LMA). Presently, there is a lack of data on eco-physiological (gs, bVOCs emissions) and foliar traits (LMA) for several ornamental species used in urban greening programs, which does not allow assessment of their O3 removal capacity and OFP. This study aimed to (i) parameterize gs, assess bVOCs emissions and LMA of 14 ornamental woody species commonly used in Mediterranean urban greening, and (ii) model their Net O3 uptake. The gs Jarvis model was parameterized considering various environmental conditions alongside isoprene and monoterpene foliar bVOCs emission rates trapped in the field and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results are helpful for urban planning and landscaping; suggesting that Catalpa bignonioides and Gleditsia triacanthos have excellent O3 removal capacity due to their high maximum gs (gmax) equal to 0.657 and 0.597 mol H2O m-2 s-1. Regarding bVOCs, high isoprene (16.75 μg gdw-1 h-1) and monoterpene (13.12 μg gdw-1 h-1) emission rates were found for Rhamnus alaternus and Cornus mas. In contrast, no bVOCs emissions were detected for Camellia sasanqua and Paulownia tomentosa. In conclusion, 11 species showed a positive Net O3 uptake, while the use of large numbers of R. alaternus, C. mas, and Chamaerops humilis for urban afforestation planning are not recommended due to their potential to induce a deterioration of outdoor air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Manzini
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine, 18, 50144, Firenze, Italy
| | - Yasutomo Hoshika
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, 90133, Italy.
| | - Pierre Sicard
- ARGANS, 260 Route du Pin Montard, BP 234, 06904, Sophia Antipolis, France; National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry "Marin Drăcea" (INCDS), 077030, Voluntari, Romania
| | - Alessandra De Marco
- National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), CR Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Ferrini
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science and Technology (DAGRI), University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine, 18, 50144, Firenze, Italy; Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Area della Ricerca di Torino, Strada delle Cacce, 73, 10135, Torino (To), Italy
| | - Emanuele Pallozzi
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 00015, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Luisa Neri
- Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rita Baraldi
- Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Paoletti
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, 90133, Italy
| | - Barbara Baesso Moura
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, 90133, Italy
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Jennings V, Rigolon A, Thompson J, Murray A, Henderson A, Gragg RS. The Dynamic Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space in Diverse Communities: Opportunities and Challenges to Public Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:800. [PMID: 38929046 PMCID: PMC11204079 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060800] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Social cohesion is a key factor within social determinants of health and well-being. Urban green spaces can provide environments that potentially facilitate meaningful and positive social interactions that promote social cohesion, equity, human health, and well-being. However, the lack of integration of existing research on social cohesion, urban green spaces, and public health in diverse (e.g., racially and ethnically) communities limits culturally relevant strategies to address health disparities. In this manuscript, we synthesize research on the potential of urban green spaces to promote social cohesion and public health in historically excluded communities. Particularly, we explore the development of social cohesion as it relates to the social environment, built environment, leisure opportunities, green space maintenance, safety, and green gentrification. We highlight key factors and their application to meet opportunities and challenges to social and public health. A conceptual framework is presented to provide an overview and illustrate connections found in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viniece Jennings
- School of the Environment, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA;
| | - Alessandro Rigolon
- Department City and Metropolitan Planning, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Jasmine Thompson
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
| | - Athena Murray
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
| | - Ariel Henderson
- Department of Public Health, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
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Lévesque-Vézina C, Lapointe M. Health and wellbeing benefits of urban forests in winter: a narrative review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38879884 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2363469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Urban trees and green spaces, hereafter, urban forests, are known to contribute to human health and wellbeing. However, research has predominantly focused on warm seasons. To understand whether these benefits extend to winter months, when vegetation is dormant, we conducted a narrative review of the health outcomes associated with urban forests in winter in cities with cold climates. We synthesized findings from 21 studies originating from Asia, Europe and North America. The most studied health outcomes were mental health, physical activity and physiological relaxation, all showing a positive relationship with urban forest exposure. These finding appear similar to those observed in warmer seasons. However, more studies are needed, on a diversity of health outcomes, to draw more robust conclusions in this emerging research field. Future research on urban forests should therefore consider winter and the effect of seasonality to improve health and wellbeing of urban dwellers in all seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie Lapointe
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health (INSPQ), Québec, QC, Canada
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Buxton RT, Hudgins EJ, Lavigne E, Villeneuve PJ, Prince SA, Pearson AL, Halsall T, Robichaud C, Bennett JR. Mental health is positively associated with biodiversity in Canadian cities. COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 5:310. [PMID: 38873360 PMCID: PMC11166573 DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01482-9] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Cities concentrate problems that affect human well-being and biodiversity. Exploring the link between mental health and biodiversity can inform more holistic public health and urban planning. Here we examined associations between bird and tree species diversity estimates from eBird community science datasets and national forest inventories with self-rated mental health metrics from the Canadian Community Health Survey. We linked data across 36 Canadian Metropolitan Areas from 2007-2022 at a postal code level. After controlling for covariates, we found that bird and tree species diversity were significantly positively related to good self-reported mental health. Living in a postal code with bird diversity one standard deviation higher than the mean increased reporting of good mental health by 6.64%. Postal codes with tree species richness one standard deviation more than the mean increased reporting of good mental health by 5.36%. Our results suggest that supporting healthy urban ecosystems may also benefit human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T. Buxton
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Emma J. Hudgins
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
- School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Eric Lavigne
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Paul J. Villeneuve
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Stephanie A. Prince
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Amber L. Pearson
- CS Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI USA
| | - Tanya Halsall
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Courtney Robichaud
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Joseph R. Bennett
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
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Ordóñez C, Kendal D, Davern M, Conway T. Having a tree in front of one's home is associated with GREATER subjective wellbeing in adult residents in Melbourne, Australia, and Toronto, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118445. [PMID: 38360163 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118445] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
While urban trees can be important determinants of human health and wellbeing in world cities, the specific influence of nearby urban trees upon human wellbeing has not been adequately explored. While many studies have associated urban greenery abundance with wellbeing scores, many measures of urban greenery do not specify the type of vegetation or the impact of co-location. Here we fill this gap by associating self-reported measures of the presence of nearby trees (tree in front of one's home) with validated subjective wellbeing (SWB) scores. We also tested for the mediating role of what people thought about trees and nature, with a focus on the values people associate with urban trees and nature relatedness (NR). We used electronic panel survey data based on a demographic and geographical representative sample of more than 3400 residents living in Toronto, Canada, and Melbourne, Australia. We analysed these data using regression-based mediation and path analyses. We found that having a tree in front of one's home was strongly and positively associated with SWB scores in both cities with similar results (Melbourne, β = 0.17, p < 0.05; Toronto, β = 0.18, p < 0.05), while accounting for NR, values associated with urban trees, and demographics (e.g., age, education, home ownership). The mediating role of NR and values was small. The specific pathways of association between tree in front of one's home, SWB, NR, and values, varied by city, when accounting for demographics. We discuss how increasing the abundance of nearby urban trees in cities may also increase human wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Ordóñez
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, Burnley campus, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Victoria, 3121, Australia.
| | - Dave Kendal
- Future in Nature Pty Ltd, Australia; Melbourne School of Design, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Melanie Davern
- Health Place and Society, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Tenley Conway
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
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Singh N, Buczyłowska D, Baumbach C, Bratkowski J, Mysak Y, Wierzba-Łukaszyk M, Sitnik-Warchulska K, Skotak K, Lipowska M, Izydorczyk B, Szwed M, Dzhambov AM, Markevych I. Pathways linking greenspace to behavioural problems in Polish children. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31435. [PMID: 38818196 PMCID: PMC11137514 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31435] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Previous cross-sectional studies have found a beneficial relationship between greenspace and children's behaviour. Nevertheless, evidence on the mechanisms underlying this association remains scant. We examined whether the availability of greenspace was related to fewer behavioural problems in Polish children and investigated potential mechanisms. Methods Data were obtained from the case-control NeuroSmog study, in which children with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were tested from October 2020 to September 2022. The analytic sample comprised 679 children aged 10-13 years. Parents reported internalizing, externalizing, and total behavioural problems using the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL), as well as information about the presence of a domestic garden and potential mediators: greenspace perception, neighbourhood social cohesion, and physical activity. Tree and grass covers were extracted in 500 m and 1 km buffers around lifelong residences. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the psychosocial pathways linking the greenspace metrics to behavioural problems. Results Greenspace was only indirectly related to fewer behavioural problems. Specifically, tree cover was related to greater levels of physical activity which, in turn, was related to fewer internalizing and total behavioural problems. Tree cover and presence of garden were related to greenspace perception which, in turn, was associated with higher neighbourhood social cohesion which, in turn, was linked to fewer behavioural problems. The patterns of associations in children without ADHD were very similar to those in the full sample except that the associations from garden to greenspace perception and from physical activity to total behavioural problems were no longer significant. The only association persisted among girls was from neighbourhood social cohesion to behavioural problems and among boys were from tree cover to physical activity and tree cover and garden to greenspace perception. Conclusion Trees and garden, but not grass, are linked to fewer behavioural problems through greenspace perception, neighbourhood social cohesion, and physical activity in Polish children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitika Singh
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Clemens Baumbach
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jakub Bratkowski
- Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Yarema Mysak
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | | | - Krzysztof Skotak
- Institute of Environmental Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lipowska
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Institute of Applied Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Institute of Psychology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Marcin Szwed
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Angel M. Dzhambov
- Department of Hygiene, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Institute for Highway Engineering and Transport Planning, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
- Research Group “Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment”, SRIPD, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Iana Markevych
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Research Group “Health and Quality of Life in a Green and Sustainable Environment”, SRIPD, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Environmental Health Division, Research Institute at Medical University of Plovdiv, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Müller C, Paulsen L, Bucksch J, Wallmann-Sperlich B. Built and natural environment correlates of physical activity of adults living in rural areas: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2024; 21:52. [PMID: 38702772 PMCID: PMC11067138 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01598-3] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to social-ecological models, the built and natural environment has the potential to facilitate or hinder physical activity (PA). While this potential is well researched in urban areas, a current systematic review of how the built and natural environment is related to PA in rural areas is lacking. METHODS We searched five databases and included studies for adults (18-65 years) living in rural areas. We included quantitative studies investigating the association between any self-reported or objectively measured characteristic of the built or natural environment and any type of self-reported or objectively measured PA, and qualitative studies that reported on features of the built or natural environment perceived as barriers to or facilitators of PA by the participants. Screening for eligibility and quality assessment (using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields) were done in duplicate. We used a narrative approach to synthesize the results. RESULTS Of 2432 non-duplicate records, 51 quantitative and 19 qualitative studies were included. Convincing positive relationships were found between the availability and accessibility of places for exercise and recreation and leisure-time PA as well as between the overall environment and leisure-time PA. Possible positive associations were found between the overall environment and total and transport-related PA, between greenness/natural environment and total PA, between cycling infrastructure and aesthetics and MVPA, and between pedestrian infrastructure and total walking. A possible negative relationship was found between safety and security and total walking. Qualitative studies complemented several environmental facilitators (facilities for exercise and recreation, sidewalks or streets with low traffic, attractive natural environment) and barriers (lack of facilities and destinations, lack of sidewalks, speeding traffic and high traffic volumes, lack of street lighting). CONCLUSIONS Research investigating the relationship between the built and natural environment and PA behaviors of adults living in rural areas is still limited and there is a need for more high-quality and longitudinal studies. However, our most positive findings indicate that investing in places for exercise and recreation, a safe infrastructure for active transport, and nature-based activities are possible strategies that should be considered to address low levels of PA in rural adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO: CRD42021283508.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Müller
- Institute of Sport Science, University of Würzburg, Judenbühlweg 11, 97082, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Lisa Paulsen
- Department of Prevention and Health Promotion, Heidelberg University of Education, Keplerstraße 87, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens Bucksch
- Department of Prevention and Health Promotion, Heidelberg University of Education, Keplerstraße 87, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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van den Bosch M, Bartolomeu ML, Williams S, Basnou C, Hamilton I, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Pino J, Tonne C. A scoping review of human health co-benefits of forest-based climate change mitigation in Europe. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108593. [PMID: 38531235 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108593] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Climate change is a pressing global challenge with profound implications for human health. Forest-based climate change mitigation strategies, such as afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable forest management, offer promising solutions to mitigate climate change and simultaneously yield substantial co-benefits for human health. The objective of this scoping review was to examine research trends related to the interdisciplinary nexus between forests as carbon sinks and human health co-benefits. We developed a conceptual framework model, supporting the inclusion of exposure pathways, such as recreational opportunities or aesthetic experiences, in the co-benefit context. We used a scoping review methodology to identify the proportion of European research on forest-based mitigation strategies that acknowledge the interconnection between mitigation strategies and human impacts. We also aimed to assess whether synergies and trade-offs between forest-based carbon sink capacity and human co-benefits has been analysed and quantified. From the initial 4,062 records retrieved, 349 reports analysed European forest management principles and factors related to climate change mitigation capacity. Of those, 97 studies acknowledged human co-benefits and 13 studies quantified the impacts on exposure pathways or health co-benefits and were included for full review. Our analysis demonstrates that there is potential for synergies related to optimising carbon sink capacity together with human co-benefits, but there is currently a lack of holistic research approaches assessing these interrelationships. We suggest enhanced interdisciplinary efforts, using for example multideterminant modelling approaches, to advance evidence and understanding of the forest and health nexus in the context of climate change mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda van den Bosch
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; European Forest Institute, Biocities Facility Rome, Italy.
| | - María Lucía Bartolomeu
- Dirección Nacional de Epidemiología del Ministerio de Salud de La Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sarah Williams
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ian Hamilton
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cathryn Tonne
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología Y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Ribeiro H, Santana KVDS, Oliver SL. Natural Environments in University Campuses and Students' Well-Being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:413. [PMID: 38673325 PMCID: PMC11050544 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21040413] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Most recent university campuses follow the North American model, built on city limits or countryside, with large separate buildings in open green spaces. Studies suggest that the prevalence and severity of mental health issues among university students has been increasing over the past decade in most countries. University services were created to face this growing problem, however individual-based interventions have limited effects on mental health and well-being of a large population. Our aim was to verify if and how the natural environment in campuses is focused on programs to cope with the issue of mental health and well-being among students. A systematic review of literature was undertaken with search in Scopus and LILACS with the keywords "green areas" AND "well-being" AND "Campus", following PRISMA guidelines. As a result, 32 articles were selected. Research on the topic is recent, mostly in the USA, Bulgaria, and China. Most studies used objective information on campuses' greenness and/or university students' perception. Mental health was usually measured by validated scores. Findings of all the studies indicated positive association between campus greenery and well-being of students. We conclude that there is a large potential for use of university campuses in programs and as sites for students' restoration and stress relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Ribeiro
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil; (K.V.d.S.S.); (S.L.O.)
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13
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Xie Z, Sutaria SR, Chen JY, Gao H, Conklin DJ, Keith RJ, Srivastava S, Lorkiewicz P, Bhatnagar A. Evaluation of urinary limonene metabolites as biomarkers of exposure to greenness. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 245:117991. [PMID: 38141921 PMCID: PMC10922478 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117991] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to plants is known to improve physical and mental health and living in areas of high vegetation is associated with better health. The addition of quantitative measures of greenness exposure at individual-level to other objective and subjective study measures will help establish cause-and-effect relationships between greenspaces and human health. Because limonene is one of the most abundant biogenic volatile organic compounds emitted by plants, we hypothesized that urinary metabolites of inhaled limonene can serve as biomarkers of exposure to greenness. To test our hypothesis, we analyzed urine samples collected from eight human volunteers after limonene inhalation or after greenness exposure using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry-based profiling. Eighteen isomers of nine metabolites were detected in urine after limonene inhalation, and their kinetic parameters were estimated using nonlinear mixed effect models. Urinary levels of most abundant limonene metabolites were elevated after brief exposure to a forested area, and the ratio of urinary limonene metabolites provided evidence of recent exposure. The identities and structures of these metabolites were validated using stable isotope tracing and tandem mass spectral comparison. Together, these data suggest that urinary metabolites of limonene, especially uroterpenol glucuronide and dihydroperillic acid glucuronide, could be used as individualized biomarkers of greenness exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzhi Xie
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Saurin R Sutaria
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Jin Y Chen
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Hong Gao
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Daniel J Conklin
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Rachel J Keith
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Sanjay Srivastava
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Pawel Lorkiewicz
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Aruni Bhatnagar
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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14
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Freymueller J, Schmid HL, Senkler B, Lopez Lumbi S, Zerbe S, Hornberg C, McCall T. Current methodologies of greenspace exposure and mental health research-a scoping review. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1360134. [PMID: 38510363 PMCID: PMC10951718 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1360134] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Greenspaces can provide an important resource for human mental health. A growing body of literature investigates the interaction and the influence of diverse greenspace exposures. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex connection between greenspace and mental health, a variety of perspectives and methodological combinations are needed. The aim of this review is to assess the current methodologies researching greenspace and mental health. Methods A scoping review was conducted. Four electronic databases (Pubmed, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science) were searched for relevant studies. A wide range of greenspace and mental health keywords were included to provide a comprehensive representation of the body of research. Relevant information on publication characteristics, types of greenspaces, mental health outcomes, and measurements of greenspace exposure and mental health was extracted and assessed. Results 338 studies were included. The included studies encompassed a multitude of methods, as well as outcomes for both greenspace and mental health. 28 combinations were found between seven categories each for greenspace and mental health assessment. Some pairings such as geoinformation systems for greenspace assessment and questionnaires investigating mental health were used much more frequently than others, implying possible research gaps. Furthermore, we identified problems and inconsistences in reporting of greenspace types and mental health outcomes. Discussion The identified methodological variety is a potential for researching the complex connections between greenspace and mental health. Commonly used combinations can provide important insights. However, future research needs to emphasize other perspectives in order to understand how to create living environments with mental health benefits. For this purpose, interdisciplinary research is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Freymueller
- Medical School OWL, Department of Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Hannah-Lea Schmid
- Medical School OWL, Department of Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Ben Senkler
- Medical School OWL, Department of Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Susanne Lopez Lumbi
- Medical School OWL, Department of Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Stefan Zerbe
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
- Institute of Geography, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Claudia Hornberg
- Medical School OWL, Department of Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Timothy McCall
- Medical School OWL, Department of Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- School of Public Health, Department of Environment and Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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15
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Whitmee S, Green R, Belesova K, Hassan S, Cuevas S, Murage P, Picetti R, Clercq-Roques R, Murray K, Falconer J, Anton B, Reynolds T, Sharma Waddington H, Hughes RC, Spadaro J, Aguilar Jaber A, Saheb Y, Campbell-Lendrum D, Cortés-Puch M, Ebi K, Huxley R, Mazzucato M, Oni T, de Paula N, Peng G, Revi A, Rockström J, Srivastava L, Whitmarsh L, Zougmoré R, Phumaphi J, Clark H, Haines A. Pathways to a healthy net-zero future: report of the Lancet Pathfinder Commission. Lancet 2024; 403:67-110. [PMID: 37995741 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)02466-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Whitmee
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Rosemary Green
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kristine Belesova
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Syreen Hassan
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Soledad Cuevas
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Peninah Murage
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Roberto Picetti
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Romain Clercq-Roques
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kris Murray
- MRC Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Jane Falconer
- Library, Archive & Open Research Services, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Blanca Anton
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tamzin Reynolds
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Hugh Sharma Waddington
- Environmental Health Group, Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; London International Development Centre, London, UK
| | - Robert C Hughes
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joseph Spadaro
- Spadaro Environmental Research Consultants (SERC), Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Kristie Ebi
- Center for Health and the Global Environment, Hans Rosling Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rachel Huxley
- C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mariana Mazzucato
- Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tolu Oni
- Global Diet and Activity Research Group, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicole de Paula
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy; Women Leaders for Planetary Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gong Peng
- University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Aromar Revi
- Indian Institute for Human Settlements Tharangavana, Bengaluru, India
| | - Johan Rockström
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Leena Srivastava
- Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Robert Zougmoré
- AICCRA, International Crops Research for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bamako, Mali
| | - Joy Phumaphi
- African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Helen Clark
- Helen Clark Foundation, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andy Haines
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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16
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Prince SA, Lang JJ, de Groh M, Badland H, Barnett A, Littlejohns LB, Brandon NC, Butler GP, Casu G, Cerin E, Colley RC, de Lannoy L, Demchenko I, Ellingwood HN, Evenson KR, Faulkner G, Fridman L, Friedenreich CM, Fuller DL, Fuselli P, Giangregorio LM, Gupta N, Hino AA, Hume C, Isernhagen B, Jalaludin B, Lakerveld J, Larouche R, Lemon SC, Loucaides CA, Maddock JE, McCormack GR, Mehta A, Milton K, Mota J, Ngo VD, Owen N, Oyeyemi AL, Palmeira AL, Rainham DG, Rhodes RE, Ridgers ND, Roosendaal I, Rosenberg DE, Schipperijn J, Slater SJ, Storey KE, Tremblay MS, Tully MA, Vanderloo LM, Veitch J, Vietinghoff C, Whiting S, Winters M, Yang L, Geneau R. Prioritizing a research agenda on built environments and physical activity: a twin panel Delphi consensus process with researchers and knowledge users. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2023; 20:144. [PMID: 38062460 PMCID: PMC10704660 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01533-y] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The growth of urban dwelling populations globally has led to rapid increases of research and policy initiatives addressing associations between the built environment and physical activity (PA). Given this rapid proliferation, it is important to identify priority areas and research questions for moving the field forward. The objective of this study was to identify and compare research priorities on the built environment and PA among researchers and knowledge users (e.g., policy makers, practitioners). METHODS Between September 2022 and April 2023, a three-round, modified Delphi survey was conducted among two independent panels of international researchers (n = 38) and knowledge users (n = 23) to identify similarities and differences in perceived research priorities on the built environment and PA and generate twin 'top 10' lists of the most important research needs. RESULTS From a broad range of self-identified issues, both panels ranked in common the most pressing research priorities including stronger study designs such as natural experiments, research that examines inequalities and inequities, establishing the cost effectiveness of interventions, safety and injuries related to engagement in active transportation (AT), and considerations for climate change and climate adaptation. Additional priorities identified by researchers included: implementation science, research that incorporates Indigenous perspectives, land-use policies, built environments that support active aging, and participatory research. Additional priorities identified by knowledge users included: built environments and PA among people living with disabilities and a need for national data on trip chaining, multi-modal travel, and non-work or school-related AT. CONCLUSIONS Five common research priorities between the two groups emerged, including (1) to better understand causality, (2) interactions with the natural environment, (3) economic evaluations, (4) social disparities, and (5) preventable AT-related injuries. The findings may help set directions for future research, interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaborations, and funding opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Prince
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada.
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Justin J Lang
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia, City East Campus, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Margaret de Groh
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Hannah Badland
- Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anthony Barnett
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lori Baugh Littlejohns
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Population and Public Health, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Gregory P Butler
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Géna Casu
- Association pour la santé publique du Québec (ASPQ), Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ester Cerin
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rachel C Colley
- Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Iryna Demchenko
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Kelly R Evenson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Guy Faulkner
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Liraz Fridman
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine M Friedenreich
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel L Fuller
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Lora M Giangregorio
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neeru Gupta
- Department of Sociology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Adriano A Hino
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Clare Hume
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Bin Jalaludin
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jeroen Lakerveld
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Health Behaviours and Chronic Diseases, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Upstream Team, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Richard Larouche
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Stephenie C Lemon
- Prevention Research Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Jay E Maddock
- School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Gavin R McCormack
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- School of Planning, Architecture, and Landscape, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
| | - Aman Mehta
- Maroondah City Council, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karen Milton
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Jorge Mota
- Research Center in Physical Activity, health and Leisure (CIAFEL)-Faculty of Sports-University of Porto (FADEUP) and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Victor D Ngo
- Canadian Institute of Planners, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neville Owen
- Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adewale L Oyeyemi
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Daniel G Rainham
- Healthy Populations Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ryan E Rhodes
- School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicola D Ridgers
- Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), University of South Australia, City East Campus, Adelaide, South Australia
| | | | - Dori E Rosenberg
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jasper Schipperijn
- Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sandra J Slater
- Bachelor of Science in Public Health Program, School of Pharmacy, Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kate E Storey
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark S Tremblay
- Outdoor Play Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark A Tully
- School of Medicine, Ulster University, Londonberry, United Kingdom
| | - Leigh M Vanderloo
- ParticipACTION, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jenny Veitch
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Stephen Whiting
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Meghan Winters
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Linchuan Yang
- Department of Urban and Rural Planning, School of Architecture, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Robert Geneau
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, 785 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada
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17
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Devisscher T, Lam T, Fitzgibbons J, Jarvis I, Li D, Mitchell MGE. More than greening: Using a novel index to assess restorative nature and vulnerability relationships. AMBIO 2023; 52:1992-2008. [PMID: 37490226 PMCID: PMC10654315 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01889-2] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Urban living limits access to nature yet spending time in nature is crucial for human health and well-being. To overcome this, urban planners and policymakers are actively looking for different ways to conserve and create more urban nature through parks, street trees, and other greening strategies. However, research shows that in most cities, these greening efforts are not equitably distributed, nor are they equal in terms of their quality or benefits they provide. Creating more equitable access to urban nature is a challenge and a priority in the next decade, and so is improving the quality of urban nature and associated benefits for urbanites. To address this challenge and contribute at both practical and conceptual levels, we propose a new Local Restorative Nature (LRN) index for geospatially assessing the "restorative quality" of urban nature that can support mental well-being. To contextualize the LRN index, we map the distribution of restorative nature in relation to social vulnerability in Vancouver, Canada. The novel LRN index provides critical insights showing that many neighborhoods with vulnerable populations in Vancouver have less exposure to restorative nature to support mental health and highlights where to strategically prioritize urban greening investment in areas that need it the most. The LRN index is scalable and can be used by urban planners in other cities and contexts to improve equitable distribution of restorative nature and better support urbanites' well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahia Devisscher
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Taelynn Lam
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Joanne Fitzgibbons
- Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ingrid Jarvis
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Derek Li
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Matthew G E Mitchell
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Spano G, Nobile F, Giannico V, Elia M, Michelozzi P, Bosco A, Dadvand P, Sanesi G, Stafoggia M. Two- and three-dimensional indicators of green and grey space exposure and psychiatric conditions and medicine use: A longitudinal study in a large population-based Italian cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 182:108320. [PMID: 37976839 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108320] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence available on the associations between urban greenness and mental health is mainly based on cross-sectional studies and has relied on 2D indicators of greenness. This longitudinal study aimed at investigating the association between 2D and 3D indicators of green and grey spaces and incident mental health-related outcomes in a large population-based cohort. METHODS Our study used data from 593,894 Italian adults (≥30 years) from the Rome Longitudinal Study. Mental health outcomes were defined using either drug prescriptions (antidepressants, antipsychotics, lithium and other mood stabilisers, and anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives), or hospitalisation records (for schizophrenia spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety, stress-related and somatoform, or substance use disorders). We obtained 2D and 3D indicators of green and grey exposures including Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), green volume, grey volume, number of trees, and Normalized Difference Green-Grey Volume Index around participants' homes. Cox proportional hazards regression models were developed to estimate the association of green and grey space exposure and psychiatric conditions and medicine use, adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS We found beneficial associations of NDVI and the number of trees with antipsychotic and lithium and other mood stabiliser drugs. We also observed detrimental associations between grey volume and lithium and other mood stabilisers and anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative drugs. Finally, we found a protective association of the NDGG with lithium and other mood stabilisers (HR: 0.977; 95% CI: 0.965-0.990) and anxiolytic, hypnotic and sedative drugs (HR: 0.851; 95% CI: 0.762-0.950). The associations for hospitalisation for psychiatric conditions were less consistent and generally not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggested that higher greenness areas around residential addresses are associated with reduced use of drugs for psychiatric conditions, while the opposite is true for higher grey space exposure. The study highlights the importance of accurately characterising green and grey spaces, using novel exposure indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Spano
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Federica Nobile
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Giannico
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
| | - Mario Elia
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Michelozzi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosco
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - 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
| | - Giovanni Sanesi
- Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
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Xie Y, Hirabayashi S, Hashimoto S, Shibata S, Kang J. Exploring the Spatial Pattern of Urban Forest Ecosystem Services based on i-Tree Eco and Spatial Interpolation: A Case Study of Kyoto City, Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 72:991-1005. [PMID: 37382645 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-023-01847-4] [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: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Urban forest, as an essential urban green infrastructure, is critical in providing ecosystem services to cities. To enhance the mainstreaming of ecosystem services in urban planning, it is necessary to explore the spatial pattern of urban forest ecosystem services in cities. This study provides a workflow for urban forest planning based on field investigation, i-Tree Eco, and geostatistical interpolation. Firstly, trees across an array of land use types were investigated using a sampling method. Then i-Tree Eco was applied to quantify ecosystem services and ecosystem service value in each plot. Based on the ecosystem services estimates for plots, four interpolation methods were applied and compared by cross-validation. The Empirical Bayesian Kriging was determined as the best interpolation method with higher prediction accuracy. With the results of Empirical Bayesian Kriging, this study compared urban forest ecosystem services and ecosystem service value across land use types. The spatial correlations between ecosystem service value and four types of point of interest in urban places were explored using the bivariate Moran's I statistic and the bivariate local indicators of spatial association. Our results show that the residential area in the built-up area of Kyoto city had higher species richness, tree density, ecosystem services, and total ecosystem service value. Positive spatial correlations were found between ecosystem service value and the distribution of urban space types including the tourist attraction distribution, urban park distribution, and school distribution. This study provides a specific ecosystem service-oriented reference for urban forest planning based on land use and urban space types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusong Xie
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Shizuka Hashimoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shozo Shibata
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jiefeng Kang
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.
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20
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Marvier M, Kareiva P, Felix D, Ferrante BJ, Billington MB. The benefits of nature exposure: The need for research that better informs implementation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304126120. [PMID: 37871200 PMCID: PMC10622866 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304126120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Concern about humanity's detachment from nature has spawned a global push to increase the availability of green spaces within cities. One impetus for this movement is a growing collection of studies documenting an association between improved human well-being and exposure to nature. The challenge lies in translating this research into pragmatic recommendations for cities. The usefulness of the existing research portfolio is diminished by the limitations of prevailing research designs. For example, most nature exposure studies (>80%) are observational. The rare randomized manipulative experiments tend to be indoors or virtual and rely on nature exposures on the order of ten to fifteen minutes. "Nature" and "biodiversity" are commonly invoked together as benefiting human well-being despite little evidence that biodiversity has particular importance for human psychological and emotional health. The most glaring gap in nature exposure research is the neglect of differences among cultures and ethnic groups with respect to the nature they prefer. In the few cases where researchers looked for differences among groups, they often found heterogeneous responses. Finally, few studies have compared greening interventions to other possible efforts to improve urban life. Thus, the utopian city of the future might be resplendent with urban parks on every block, but it is not clear whether those parks should offer basketball and pickleball courts, or small woodlands with a cornucopia of birds. We advocate for the next generation of nature exposure research that better informs the envisioning of our future sustainable cities with enhanced and equitable access to nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Marvier
- Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA95053
| | | | | | - Brian J. Ferrante
- Environmental Systems Program, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA92093
| | - Morgan B. Billington
- Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA95053
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21
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Buxton MA, O’Neill MS. Invited Perspective: Forging a Way Forward Amid the Enduring Impacts of Redlining. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:101302. [PMID: 37851583 PMCID: PMC10584042 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Miatta A. Buxton
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marie S. O’Neill
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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22
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Woodward A, Hinwood A, Bennett D, Grear B, Vardoulakis S, Lalchandani N, Lyne K, Williams C. Trees, Climate Change, and Health: An Urban Planning, Greening and Implementation Perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6798. [PMID: 37754657 PMCID: PMC10530629 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20186798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The In Conversation: Boundary, Spanners, Thinkers and Policy Actors Round Table Series provides a platform for researchers, policy actors, and implementation experts to elevate discussion on emerging issues, present new and upcoming research, and facilitate conversations around impacts and possible solutions. This brief report, on trees, climate change, and health, reflects a conversation between the authors of this paper, along with supporting literature. It explores the potential of green spaces and trees as a viable strategy to address climate change challenges and simultaneously improve population health, well-being, and health equity. In particular, it highlights the public health benefits of trees and green space, the challenges faced in urban areas, and opportunities for the protection, maintenance and regeneration of urban green space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Woodward
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Hinwood
- United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Daniel Bennett
- Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Adelaide 5001, Australia
| | - Brenton Grear
- Green Adelaide, Department for Environment and Water, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Sotiris Vardoulakis
- Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network, Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia
| | - Neha Lalchandani
- School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
| | - Katrina Lyne
- Centre for Health in All Policies Research Translation, Health Translation SA, SAHMRI, Adelaide 5000, Australia
| | - Carmel Williams
- School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia
- Centre for Health in All Policies Research Translation, Health Translation SA, SAHMRI, Adelaide 5000, Australia
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23
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Yin Z, Ouyang Y, Dang B, Zhang L. Pollen grading prediction scale for patients with Artemisia pollen allergy in China: A 3-day moving predictive model. Clin Transl Allergy 2023; 13:e12280. [PMID: 37488741 PMCID: PMC10332133 DOI: 10.1002/clt2.12280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artemisia pollen is the most prevalent outdoor aeroallergen causing respiratory allergies in Beijing, China. Pollen allergen concentrations have a direct impact on the quality of life of those suffering from allergies. Artemisia pollen deposition grading predictions can provide early warning for the protection and treatment of patients as well as provide a scientific basis for allergen specific clinical immunotherapy. OBJECTIVE To develop a model of Artemisia pollen grading to predict development in patients with pollen allergy. METHODS Artemisia pollen data from four pollen monitoring stations in Beijing as well as the number of Artemisia pollen allergen serum specific immunoglobulin E positive cases in Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2014 to 2016 were used to develop a statistical model of pollen deposition and provide optimised threshold values. RESULTS A logarithmic correlation existed between the number of patients with Artemisia pollen allergy and Artemisia pollen deposition, and the average pollen deposition for three consecutive days was most correlated with the number of allergic patients. Based on the threshold of the number of patients and the characteristics of Artemisia pollen, a five-stage pollen deposition grading model was developed to predict the degree of pollen allergy. CONCLUSIONS Graded prediction of pollen deposition may help pollen allergic populations benefit from preventive interventions before onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyin Yin
- Institute of Urban Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, China
- Beijing Meteorological Service Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhui Ouyang
- Department of Allergy, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Dang
- Beijing Municipal Climate Center, Beijing, China
| | - Luo Zhang
- Department of Allergy, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Nasal Diseases, Beijing Institute of Otolaryngology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Nasal Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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24
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Ordóñez C, Labib SM, Chung L, Conway TM. Satisfaction with urban trees associates with tree canopy cover and tree visibility around the home. NPJ URBAN SUSTAINABILITY 2023; 3:37. [PMID: 38666053 PMCID: PMC11041773 DOI: 10.1038/s42949-023-00119-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Many world cities want to expand the number of urban trees. How this expansion occurs should consider what people expect from trees based on how they experience and perceive these trees. Therefore, we need a better understanding of how people perceptually respond to urban tree abundance. This research examined whether people's satisfaction with urban trees and satisfaction with the management of those trees were related to objective measures of greenery such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), percent tree canopy cover, and the Viewshed Greenness Visibility Index (VGVI) for trees. We used a demographically and geographically representative survey of 223 residents in Toronto, Canada, and calculated NDVI, canopy cover, and VGVI at three neighbourhood sizes. We analysed the data using generalized linear regression. We found that canopy cover and VGVI had a positive association with satisfaction with urban trees. The associations were comparatively stronger at larger neighbourhood scales than at smaller scales. There were no statistically significant associations with NDVI or satisfaction with the management of urban trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Ordóñez
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6 Canada
| | - S. M. Labib
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lincoln Chung
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6 Canada
| | - Tenley M. Conway
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6 Canada
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25
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Zhang Z, Měchurová K, Resch B, Amegbor P, Sabel CE. Assessing the association between overcrowding and human physiological stress response in different urban contexts: a case study in Salzburg, Austria. Int J Health Geogr 2023; 22:15. [PMID: 37344837 DOI: 10.1186/s12942-023-00334-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Overcrowding in densely populated urban areas is increasingly becoming an issue for mental health disorders. Yet, only few studies have examined the association between overcrowding in cities and physiological stress responses. Thus, this study employed wearable sensors (a wearable camera, an Empatica E4 wristband and a smartphone-based GPS) to assess the association between overcrowding and human physiological stress response in four types of urban contexts (green space, transit space, commercial space, and blue space). A case study with 26 participants was conducted in Salzburg, Austria. We used Mask R-CNN to detect elements related to overcrowding such as human crowds, sitting facilities, vehicles and bikes from first-person video data collected by wearable cameras, and calculated a change score (CS) to assess human physiological stress response based on galvanic skin response (GSR) and skin temperature from the physiological data collected by the wristband, then this study used statistical and spatial analysis to assess the association between the change score and the above elements. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using sensor-based measurement and quantitative analysis to investigate the relationship between human stress and overcrowding in relation to different urban elements. The findings of this study indicate the importance of considering human crowds, sitting facilities, vehicles and bikes to assess the impact of overcrowding on human stress at street level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxi Zhang
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
- BERTHA, The Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | | | - Bernd Resch
- Department of Geoinformatics, University of Salzburg, 5020, Salzburg, Austria
- Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Prince Amegbor
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, 10003, USA
- BERTHA, The Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Clive E Sabel
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
- BERTHA, The Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark
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26
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Tharrey M, Klein O, Bohn T, Malisoux L, Perchoux C. Nine-year exposure to residential greenness and the risk of metabolic syndrome among Luxembourgish adults: A longitudinal analysis of the ORISCAV-Lux cohort study. Health Place 2023; 81:103020. [PMID: 37028115 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence shows a beneficial effect of exposure to greenspace on cardiometabolic health, although limited by the cross-sectional design of most studies. This study examined the long-term associations of residential greenness exposure with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and MetS components within the ORISCAV-LUX study (Wave 1: 2007-2009, Wave 2: 2016-2017, n = 395 adults). Objective exposure to residential greenness was measured in both waves by the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and by Tree Cover Density (TCD). Linear mixed models were fitted to estimate the effect of baseline levels and change in residential greenness on MetS (continuous score: siMS score) and its components (waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose and systolic blood pressure), respectively. This study provides evidence that an increase in SAVI, but not TCD, may play a role in preventing MetS, as well as improving HDL-cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels. Greater baseline SAVI was also associated with lower fasting plasma glucose levels in women and participants living in municipalities with intermediate housing price, and greater baseline TCD was associated with larger waist circumference. Overall, findings suggest a mixed impact of increased greenness on cardiometabolic outcomes. Further longitudinal research is needed to better understand the potential effects of different types of greenness exposure on cardiometabolic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Tharrey
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg; Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg.
| | - Olivier Klein
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Torsten Bohn
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Laurent Malisoux
- Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Camille Perchoux
- Department of Urban Development and Mobility, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research, Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
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Huggard L, Murphy R, O'Connor C, Nearchou F. The Social Determinants of Mental Illness: A Rapid Review of Systematic Reviews. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2023; 44:302-312. [PMID: 36972547 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2023.2186124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Previous research agendas have prioritised the role of biological determinants in mental illness aetiology. This is of particular concern, as endorsing biological determinants has been shown to promote negative attitudes towards people with mental illness. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of high-quality evidence of the social determinants of mental illness. A rapid review of systematic reviews was conducted. Five databases were searched: Embase, Medline, Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus, and PsycINFO. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses that described any social determinant of mental illness, were published in peer-review journals in English, and focussed on human participants were included. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were applied for the selection procedure. Thirty-seven systematic reviews were deemed eligible for review and narrative synthesis. Determinants identified included conflict, violence and maltreatment, life events and experiences, racism and discrimination, culture and migration, social interaction and support, structural policies and inequality, financial factors, employment factors, housing and living conditions, and demographic factors. We recommend that mental health nurses ensure adequate support be provided to those affected by the evidenced social determinants of mental illness.
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Triviño M, Morán-Ordoñez A, Eyvindson K, Blattert C, Burgas D, Repo A, Pohjanmies T, Brotons L, Snäll T, Mönkkönen M. Future supply of boreal forest ecosystem services is driven by management rather than by climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1484-1500. [PMID: 36534408 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16566] [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: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Forests provide a wide variety of ecosystem services (ES) to society. The boreal biome is experiencing the highest rates of warming on the planet and increasing demand for forest products. To foresee how to maximize the adaptation of boreal forests to future warmer conditions and growing demands of forest products, we need a better understanding of the relative importance of forest management and climate change on the supply of ecosystem services. Here, using Finland as a boreal forest case study, we assessed the potential supply of a wide range of ES (timber, bilberry, cowberry, mushrooms, carbon storage, scenic beauty, species habitat availability and deadwood) given seven management regimes and four climate change scenarios. We used the forest simulator SIMO to project forest dynamics for 100 years into the future (2016-2116) and estimate the potential supply of each service using published models. Then, we tested the relative importance of management and climate change as drivers of the future supply of these services using generalized linear mixed models. Our results show that the effects of management on the future supply of these ES were, on average, 11 times higher than the effects of climate change across all services, but greatly differed among them (from 0.53 to 24 times higher for timber and cowberry, respectively). Notably, the importance of these drivers substantially differed among biogeographical zones within the boreal biome. The effects of climate change were 1.6 times higher in northern Finland than in southern Finland, whereas the effects of management were the opposite-they were three times higher in the south compared to the north. We conclude that new guidelines for adapting forests to global change should account for regional differences and the variation in the effects of climate change and management on different forest ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Triviño
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Alejandra Morán-Ordoñez
- Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia CTCF, Solsona, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Kyle Eyvindson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Clemens Blattert
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- Forest Resources and Management, Swiss Federal Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Burgas
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Anna Repo
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Lluís Brotons
- Forest Science and Technology Center of Catalonia CTCF, Solsona, Spain
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Tord Snäll
- SLU Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mikko Mönkkönen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
- School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
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Tree insect pests and pathogens: a global systematic review of their impacts in urban areas. Urban Ecosyst 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01317-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Trees contribute greatly to urban environments and human well-being, yet relatively little is known about the extent to which a rising incidence of tree insect pests and pathogens may be affecting these contributions. To address this issue, we undertook a systematic review and synthesis of the diverse global empirical evidence on the impacts of urban tree insect pests and pathogens, using bibliographic databases. Following screening and appraisal of over 3000 articles from a wide range of fields, 100 studies from 28 countries, spanning 1979–2021, were conceptually sorted into a three-part framework: (1) environmental impacts, representing 95 of the studies, including those reporting on tree damage, mortality, reduced growth, and changes in tree function; (2) social impacts were reported by 35 of studies, including on aesthetics, human health, and safety hazards; and (3) economic impacts, reported in 24 of studies, including on costs of pest management, and economic losses. There has been a considerable increase in urban impact studies since 2011. Evidence gaps exist on impacts on climate-regulating capacity, including temperature regulation, water retention, soil erosion, and wind protection, but also on specific hazards, nuisances, human well-being, property damages, and hazard liabilities. As a knowledge synthesis, this article presents the best available evidence of urban tree insect / pathogen impacts to guide policy, management and further research. It will enable us to better forecast how growing threats will affect the urban forest and plan for these eventualities.
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Iungman T, Cirach M, Marando F, Pereira Barboza E, Khomenko S, Masselot P, Quijal-Zamorano M, Mueller N, Gasparrini A, Urquiza J, Heris M, Thondoo M, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Cooling cities through urban green infrastructure: a health impact assessment of European cities. Lancet 2023; 401:577-589. [PMID: 36736334 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(22)02585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High ambient temperatures are associated with many health effects, including premature mortality. The combination of global warming due to climate change and the expansion of the global built environment mean that the intensification of urban heat islands (UHIs) is expected, accompanied by adverse effects on population health. Urban green infrastructure can reduce local temperatures. We aimed to estimate the mortality burden that could be attributed to UHIs and the mortality burden that would be prevented by increasing urban tree coverage in 93 European cities. METHODS We did a quantitative health impact assessment for summer (June 1-Aug 31), 2015, of the effect of UHIs on all-cause mortality for adults aged 20 years or older in 93 European cities. We also estimated the temperature reductions that would result from increasing tree coverage to 30% for each city and estimated the number of deaths that could be potentially prevented as a result. We did all analyses at a high-resolution grid-cell level (250 × 250 m). We propagated uncertainties in input analyses by using Monte Carlo simulations to obtain point estimates and 95% CIs. We also did sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of our estimates. FINDINGS The population-weighted mean city temperature increase due to UHI effects was 1·5°C (SD 0·5; range 0·5-3·0). Overall, 6700 (95% CI 5254-8162) premature deaths could be attributable to the effects of UHIs (corresponding to around 4·33% [95% CI 3·37-5·28] of all summer deaths). We estimated that increasing tree coverage to 30% would cool cities by a mean of 0·4°C (SD 0·2; range 0·0-1·3). We also estimated that 2644 (95% CI 2444-2824) premature deaths could be prevented by increasing city tree coverage to 30%, corresponding to 1·84% (1·69-1·97) of all summer deaths. INTERPRETATION Our results showed the deleterious effects of UHIs on mortality and highlighted the health benefits of increasing tree coverage to cool urban environments, which would also result in more sustainable and climate-resilient cities. FUNDING GoGreenRoutes, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Institute for Global Health, UK Medical Research Council, European Union's Horizon 2020 Project Exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Iungman
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cirach
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Evelise Pereira Barboza
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sasha Khomenko
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pierre Masselot
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Marcos Quijal-Zamorano
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natalie Mueller
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Gasparrini
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Centre for Statistical Methodology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - José Urquiza
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mehdi Heris
- Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meelan Thondoo
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
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Li H, Browning MHEM, Rigolon A, Larson LR, Taff D, Labib SM, Benfield J, Yuan S, McAnirlin O, Hatami N, Kahn PH. Beyond "bluespace" and "greenspace": A narrative review of possible health benefits from exposure to other natural landscapes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159292. [PMID: 36208731 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have highlighted the physical and mental health benefits of contact with nature, typically in landscapes characterized by plants (i.e., "greenspace") and water (i.e., "bluespace"). However, natural landscapes are not always green or blue, and the effects of other landscapes are worth attention. This narrative review attempts to overcome this limitation of past research. Rather than focusing on colors, we propose that natural landscapes are composed of at least one of three components: (1) plants (e.g., trees, flowering plants, grasses, sedges, mosses, ferns, and algae), (2) water (e.g., rivers, canals, lakes, and oceans), and/or (3) rocks and minerals, including soil. Landscapes not dominated by plants or liquid-state water include those with abundant solid-state water (e.g., polar spaces) and rocks or minerals (e.g., deserts and caves). Possible health benefits of solid-state water or rock/mineral dominated landscapes include both shorter-term (e.g., viewing images) and longer-term (e.g., living in these landscapes) exposure durations. Reported benefits span improved emotional and mental states and medical treatment resources for respiratory conditions and allergies. Mechanisms underlying the health benefits of exposure consist of commonly discussed theories in the "greenspace" and "bluespace" literature (i.e., instoration and restoration) as well as less discussed pathways in that literature (i.e., post-traumatic growth, self-determination, supportive environment theory, and place attachment). This is the first review to draw attention to the potential salutogenic value of natural landscapes beyond "greenspace" and "bluespace." It is also among the first to highlight the limitations and confusion that result from classifying natural landscapes using color. Since the extant literature on natural landscapes - beyond those with abundant plants or liquid-state water - is limited in regard to quantity and quality, additional research is needed to understand their restorative potential and therapeutic possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansen Li
- Institute of Sports Science, College of Physical Education, Southwest University, Chongqing 8400715, China
| | - Matthew H E M Browning
- Virtual Reality & Nature Lab, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
| | - Alessandro Rigolon
- Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Lincoln R Larson
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Derrick Taff
- Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| | - S M Labib
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584, CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacob Benfield
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, Abington, PA, USA.
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Virtual Reality & Nature Lab, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
| | - Olivia McAnirlin
- Virtual Reality & Nature Lab, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.
| | - Nazanin Hatami
- Virtual Reality & Nature Lab, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Peter H Kahn
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Ferguson BK. Symbolic meanings of ordinary city streets and their trees. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1080025. [PMID: 36710776 PMCID: PMC9875087 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1080025] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbolic meaning is one of a number of modes of humans' relationships with physical settings. Although symbolic meaning is qualitative and ambiguous, it is an encompassing mode of interaction: symbolic meanings assemble feelings, urges, and abstract concepts; they shape people's understanding of the world and motivate their purposes, attitudes, and actions. Early literature in environmental psychology acknowledged symbolic meaning's promise, but in recent decades it has been inadequately studied; theoretical and methodological research has been needed. This paper advances the understanding and use of symbolic meaning by, first, presenting a theory which posits that in ordinary environmental settings symbolic meanings emerge from interaction between the perceptible qualities of environmental features and people's psychological predisposition to respond to them. The paper then demonstrates methods which use the theory to objectively guide the identification of symbolic meanings in the case of ordinary urban streets and their trees. Although symbolic interpretation is intuitive and subjective, in this study it is guided by objective empirical knowledge and theoretical frameworks from human sciences. A combination of methods is applied, making conclusions answerable to diverse types of underlying data. One method was in firsthand observation of present-day streets; interpretations were accepted which linked objects' perceptible qualities with people's known dispositions to respond to them. A second method was interpretation in conventional street features' documented historical evolution. Interpretations were accepted which linked objects' perceptible qualities with people's known disposition to respond, and with symbols' known cultural tendency over time to specialize, differentiate, and evolve into coherent systems consistent with social norms. The results confirm that ordinary streets and their trees form a coherent system of symbols. Their meanings are social and sociomoral; they are guides to and affirmations of humane social life; they deserve to be prioritized in design agendas alongside tangible performance measures. It is concluded that symbolic meanings are present in ordinary urban settings, that their presence can be explained theoretically, and that their interpretation can be objectively guided.
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Kiers AH, Nishimura KM, Dewa CS. Leveraging Campus Landscapes for Public Health: A Pilot Study to Understand the Psychological Effects of Urban Sheep Grazing on College Campuses. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1280. [PMID: 36674034 PMCID: PMC9859548 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1980s, college students in the U.S. have self-reported a decline in their physical and emotional health. With these conditions compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and its physical distancing restrictions, higher education institutions have an increased responsibility to establish strategic interventions and health-promoting programs for their students. Research collaborations between public health professionals and environmental designers have highlighted the benefits of environmental factors, such as wildlife, street trees, and public parks, on mental health. This pilot project aims to build upon the transdisciplinary dialogue between ecology, design, and public health by examining the social benefits of grazing lawnscape management, which is the practice of using herbivorous livestock to manage turfgrass areas. Through the design of an accessible central campus grazing space for a flock of 25 sheep and use of online questionnaires, a smartphone-based single-item survey, and open-ended feedback given via social media, the UC Davis Sheepmower Project addresses three primary questions: (1) Are there differences in self-reported stress levels and well-being between people who did not watch grazing sheep (no sheepmower group) compared with those who did watch grazing sheep (sheepmower group)? (2) Does holding sheep grazing events create opportunities for education about well-being and engagement with the campus community? (3) Can this type of urban grazing installation ultimately contribute to the overall identity of a college campus? Web-based questionnaire results indicate there is no significant difference in self-reported stress levels between the two groups; however, the moment-in-time smartphone-based single item question suggests that the presence of sheep provides temporary, noticeable relief and enhanced mood for those who observe the animals. Reflections posted on social media suggested that participants found the sheep grazing events fostered feelings of community and placemaking within the campus identity. However, the questionnaire sample indicated the grazing events did not have a significant effect on participants' sense of place or overall campus identity. This transdisciplinary effort breaks down traditionally siloed approaches to human and environmental health and is an example of a whole-systems approach to developing innovative solutions and encouraging applied collective action.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Haven Kiers
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kelly M. Nishimura
- Office of Campus Planning, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Carolyn S. Dewa
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Sędzicki D, Cudzik J, Nyka L. Computer-Aided Greenery Design-Prototype Green Structure Improving Human Health in Urban Ecosystem. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1198. [PMID: 36673954 PMCID: PMC9859522 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021198] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Increasing population and urbanization, with climate change consequences, such as rising temperatures, influence public health and well-being. The search to improve the quality of life in cities becomes one of the priority objectives. A solution can be found in the role of greenery in an urban environment and its impact on human health. This opens a path toward experimentation on microclimate green structures that can be inserted into dense urban spaces providing human and environmental benefits. The article proposes an automated greenery design method combined with rapid prototyping for such interventions. A theoretical analysis of the problem preceded the introduction of the method. The research process was developed in accordance with the main objectives of the CDIO framework (Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate) with the SiL (Software in the Loop) and HiL (Hardware in the Loop) methods. Moreover, the applied test model allows for complex evaluation in order to ensure quality and directions for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Sędzicki
- Department of Urban Architecture and Waterscapes, Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Street, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
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Zhang HL, Nizamani MM, Cubino JP, Guo LY, Zhou JJ, Wang HF. Spatiotemporal Variation of Urban Plant Diversity and above Ground Biomass in Haikou, China. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11121824. [PMID: 36552334 PMCID: PMC9775028 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers of urban plant diversity (UPD) and above ground biomass (AGB) in urbanized areas is critical for urban ecosystem services and biodiversity protection. The relationships between UPD and AGB have been investigated simultaneously. However, the drivers of UPD and AGB have been explored independently in tropical coastal areas at different time points. To fill this gap, we conducted a remote sensing interpretation, field plant plot surveys, and compiled socioeconomic and urban greening management survey data. We conducted spatial analyses to investigate the relationships among UPD and socioeconomic variables across different primary and secondary urban functional units (UFUs) in the tropical urban ecosystems of the coastal city of Haikou, China. The primary UFUs with the highest AGB were the recreation and leisure districts in 2015 and 2021. In 2015, AGB was mainly correlated with the number of herb species in undeveloped land and the districts of industry, business, recreation, and leisure. In 2021, AGB was affected primarily by the frequency of fertilizing, maintenance, and watering. Our study found that the relationship between UPD and AGB varied across time and space in Haikou. The plant diversity and AGB's response to human activities and socioeconomics appear to have a time-lag effect. These results provide new insights in understanding how management decisions affect urban vegetation and could be used to guide future urban green space planning in Haikou.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Li Zhang
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Mir Muhammad Nizamani
- Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural College, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Josep Padullés Cubino
- Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Lin-Yuan Guo
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jing-Jiang Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Hua-Feng Wang
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
- Correspondence:
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Gillerot L, Landuyt D, Oh R, Chow W, Haluza D, Ponette Q, Jactel H, Bruelheide H, Jaroszewicz B, Scherer-Lorenzen M, De Frenne P, Muys B, Verheyen K. Forest structure and composition alleviate human thermal stress. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:7340-7352. [PMID: 36062391 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Current climate change aggravates human health hazards posed by heat stress. Forests can locally mitigate this by acting as strong thermal buffers, yet potential mediation by forest ecological characteristics remains underexplored. We report over 14 months of hourly microclimate data from 131 forest plots across four European countries and compare these to open-field controls using physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) to reflect human thermal perception. Forests slightly tempered cold extremes, but the strongest buffering occurred under very hot conditions (PET >35°C), where forests reduced strong to extreme heat stress day occurrence by 84.1%. Mature forests cooled the microclimate by 12.1 to 14.5°C PET under, respectively, strong and extreme heat stress conditions. Even young plantations reduced those conditions by 10°C PET. Forest structure strongly modulated the buffering capacity, which was enhanced by increasing stand density, canopy height and canopy closure. Tree species composition had a more modest yet significant influence: that is, strongly shade-casting, small-leaved evergreen species amplified cooling. Tree diversity had little direct influences, though indirect effects through stand structure remain possible. Forests in general, both young and mature, are thus strong thermal stress reducers, but their cooling potential can be even further amplified, given targeted (urban) forest management that considers these new insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Gillerot
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Landuyt
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Rachel Oh
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Winston Chow
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daniela Haluza
- Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Quentin Ponette
- Earth and Life Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Hervé Jactel
- Biogeco, INRAE, University of Bordeaux, Cestas, France
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- Institute of Biology, Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Bogdan Jaroszewicz
- Białowieża Geobotanical Station, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Bart Muys
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
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Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Dadvand P, Márquez S, Bartoll X, Barboza EP, Cirach M, Borrell C, Zijlema WL. The evaluation of the 3-30-300 green space rule and mental health. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114387. [PMID: 36162472 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Urban green space has many health benefits, but it is still unclear how much actually is needed for better health. Recently a new 3-30-300 rule of thumb for urban forestry and urban greening has been proposed, but this rule has not been evaluated for benefits on health. The rule requires that every citizen should be able to see at least three trees from their home, have 30 percent tree canopy cover in their neighbourhood and not live more than 300 m away from the nearest park or green space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the 3-30-300 green space rule and its components in relation to mental health. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study based on a population-based sample of 3145 individuals aged 15-97 years from in Barcelona, Spain who participated in the Barcelona Health Survey (2016-2017). We created 3-30-300 green space indicators using questionnaire data, GIS, remote sensing and land cover maps. Mental health status was assessed with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and also the use of tranquilizer/sedatives or antidepressants and psychiatrist or psychologist visits. Analyses were conducted using mixed effects logistic regression models with districts as the random effect, adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS We found that people in Barcelona had relatively little exposure to green space, whether through window view, living in an area with sufficient greenness, or access to a major green space, and only 4.7% met a surrogate 3-30-300 green space rule. Residential surrounding greenness, but not tree window view or access to major green space, was significantly associated with better mental health, less medication use, and fewer psychologist or psychiatrist visits. Meeting the full surrogate 3-30-300 green space rule was associated with better mental health, less medication use, and fewer psychologist or psychiatrist visits, but only for the latter combined the association was statistically significant (Odds ratio = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.91). CONCLUSION Few people achieved the 3-30-300 green space in Barcelona and we used a surrogate measure. We observed health benefits when the full surrogate rule was met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Payam Dadvand
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Márquez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Bartoll
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Avinguda Pŕıncep D'Astúries, 63 (1-1), 08012, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), 08041, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Evelise Pereira Barboza
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cirach
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carme Borrell
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Avinguda Pŕıncep D'Astúries, 63 (1-1), 08012, Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), 08041, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wilma L Zijlema
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemioloǵıa y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Melchor Ferńandez Almagro, 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain
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Kim E, Park S, Kim S, Choi Y, Cho JH, Kim G. Is altitude a determinant of the health benefits of nature exposure? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1021618. [PMID: 36504926 PMCID: PMC9732270 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1021618] [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: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nature exposure is a widely accepted option for promoting public health owing to the recent surge of scientific evidence. However, the actual settings to facilitate this initiative is yet to be extensively reviewed. In this systematic review, we have aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of interventional studies investigating the psycho-physiological effects of forests and urban forests, including details on their physical settings, and investigate an effect-modifying role of altitude and summarize data on the magnitude and shape of the association. Methods A keyword search using five electronic academic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus) was conducted to identify relevant articles published in English from the inception year to the end of February 2022. The methodological quality was evaluated using the ROBINS-I or ROB2 tool, depending on the study design. Meta-regression and random effects model were jointly used to examine the relationship between altitude and health outcomes. Results We included 27 eligible studies and 31 cases extracted from 19 studies were used for the meta-analysis. In the meta-regression, we observed a non-linear association between altitude and psycho-physiological effects. Altitude had a positive quadratic association with anxiety (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 96.79%), depression (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 98.78%), and fatigue (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 64.74%) alleviating effects. Conversely, altitude demonstrated a negative non-linear association with the blood pressure-lowering effect (p = 0.009, adjusted R 2 = 32.83%). Additionally, the thermal index (THI) and illuminance (lx) levels were significantly associated with effect sizes of psychological restoration. Discussion This review provides moderate-certainty evidence for an effect-modifying role of altitude. The meta-regression results suggested the optimal and minimal altitude ranges for psychological restoration and physiological relaxation, respectively. Despite some limitations, the study findings provide a significant basis for utilizing altitude, which is easily accessible and simple, to promote the health benefits of nature-based initiatives. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022310894, identifier: CRD42022310894.
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Belaire JA, Higgins C, Zoll D, Lieberknecht K, Bixler RP, Neff JL, Keitt TH, Jha S. Fine-scale monitoring and mapping of biodiversity and ecosystem services reveals multiple synergies and few tradeoffs in urban green space management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 849:157801. [PMID: 35931152 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban watersheds can play a critical role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem services in a rapidly changing world. However, managing for multiple environmental and social objectives in urban landscapes is challenging, especially if the optimization of one ecosystem service conflicts with another. Urban ecology research has frequently been limited to a few indicators - typically either biodiversity or ecosystem service indices - making tradeoffs and synergies difficult to assess. Through a recently established watershed-scale monitoring network in Central Texas, we address this gap by evaluating biodiversity (flora and fauna), habitat quality, and ecosystem service indices of urban green spaces across the watershed. Our results reveal substantial heterogeneity in biodiversity and ecosystem service levels and multiple synergies (stacked benefits or "win-wins"). For example, we found that carbon sequestration positively correlated with tree species richness and the proportion of native trees in a green space, indicating that biodiversity goals for increased tree diversity can also provide carbon sequestration benefits. We also documented correlations between green spaces with greater riparian forest cover and lower particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and cooler temperatures. In addition, we found that bee and wasp species richness was positively correlated with carbon sequestration and human visitation rates, meaning that urban green spaces can optimize carbon sequestration goals without losing pollinator habitat or access opportunities for city residents. Overall, our results indicate that many aspects of habitat quality, biodiversity, and ecosystem services can be simultaneously supported in urban green spaces. We conclude that urban design and management can optimize nature-based solutions and strategies to have distinct positive impacts on both people and nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Amy Belaire
- The Nature Conservancy, Texas, 3801 Kirby Drive, Suite 740, Houston, TX 77098, United States of America.
| | - Caitlin Higgins
- 16201 Gordon Cummings Road, Canyon, TX 79015, United States of America
| | - Deidre Zoll
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 205 W 24th Street, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America.
| | - Katherine Lieberknecht
- School of Architecture, University of Texas at Austin, 310 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - R Patrick Bixler
- LBJ School of Public Affairs, 2315 Red River Street, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - John L Neff
- Central Texas Melittological Institute, 7307 Running Rope, Austin, TX 78731, United States of America
| | - Timothy H Keitt
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 205 W 24th Street, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
| | - Shalene Jha
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 205 W 24th Street, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin, 205 W 24th Street, Austin, TX 78712, United States of America
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Herchet M, Varadarajan S, Kolassa IT, Hofmann M. How Nature Benefits Mental Health. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KLINISCHE PSYCHOLOGIE UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE 2022. [DOI: 10.1026/1616-3443/a000674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. We present an overview of the evidence of how nature benefits mental health, popular theories used to explain the effects, and the development potential of these theories. A large body of evidence highlights the beneficial effects of nature on mental health, with observed outcomes ranging from alleviating the symptoms of psychiatric disorders to improvements in cognitive abilities. The theoretical backbone for these salutary effects of nature consists of a set of models, mainly the attention restoration theory (ART), the stress reduction theory (SRT), and the Biophilia hypothesis. However, these high-level models are only loosely related and lack a pronounced biopsychological basis. While biopsychological measurements have been used widely in recent years, these efforts have not sufficiently been reflected in theories aiming to explain the benefits of nature contact for mental health. This paper seeks to encourage interdisciplinary work and further theory development to guide both research and practice toward strategically green and healthy living conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilisa Herchet
- Center for Open Digital Innovation and Participation (CODIP), Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
| | - Suchithra Varadarajan
- Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology & Education, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Iris-Tatjana Kolassa
- Clinical & Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology & Education, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Mathias Hofmann
- Center for Open Digital Innovation and Participation (CODIP), Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
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Zhang Z, Amegbor PM, Sigsgaard T, Sabel CE. Assessing the association between urban features and human physiological stress response using wearable sensors in different urban contexts. Health Place 2022; 78:102924. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Boyd DS, Crudge S, Foody G. Towards an Automated Approach for Monitoring Tree Phenology Using Vehicle Dashcams in Urban Environments. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:7672. [PMID: 36236771 PMCID: PMC9570992 DOI: 10.3390/s22197672] [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: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Trees in urban environments hold significant value in providing ecosystem services, which will become increasingly important as urban populations grow. Tree phenology is highly sensitive to climatic variation, and resultant phenological shifts have significant impact on ecosystem function. Data on urban tree phenology is important to collect. Typical remote methods to monitor tree phenological transitions, such as satellite remote sensing and fixed digital camera networks, are limited by financial costs and coarse resolutions, both spatially and temporally and thus there exists a data gap in urban settings. Here, we report on a pilot study to evaluate the potential to estimate phenological metrics from imagery acquired with a conventional dashcam fitted to a car. Dashcam images were acquired daily in spring 2020, March to May, for a 2000 m stretch of road in Melksham, UK. This pilot study indicates that time series imagery of urban trees, from which meaningful phenological data can be extracted, is obtainable from a car-mounted dashcam. The method based on the YOLOv3 deep learning algorithm demonstrated suitability for automating stages of processing towards deriving a greenness metric from which the date of tree green-up was calculated. These dates of green-up are similar to those obtained by visual analyses, with a maximum of a 4-day difference; and differences in green-up between trees (species-dependent) were evident. Further work is required to fully automate such an approach for other remote sensing capture methods, and to scale-up through authoritative and citizen science agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen S. Boyd
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Sally Crudge
- Nottingham Geospatial Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Giles Foody
- School of Geography, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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Greenspace and mortality in the U.K. Biobank: Longitudinal cohort analysis of socio-economic, environmental, and biomarker pathways. SSM Popul Health 2022; 19:101194. [PMID: 36059376 PMCID: PMC9429791 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to natural greenspace benefits health through direct and indirect pathways: increasing physical activity, improving mental health, relieving social isolation, reducing exposure to extreme temperature, noise, and air pollution. Understanding the etiologic pathway of greenspace and health is needed. Here, we used a large cohort follow-up data from the U.K. Biobank to quantify the magnitude of behavioural factors, psychological factors, biomarkers/physiological measurements, co-morbid diseases, and environmental exposure as potential mediators in the relationship between greenspace and mortality. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) with Cox proportional hazards models, and undertook exploratory mediation analyses to quantify the relative contribution of five types of mediators. Our results indicate greenspace was strongly associated with lower mortality risks [per IQR of public greenspace (HR = 0.90 (95% CI 0.86-0.84)) and domestic gardens (HR = 0.91, (95% CI 0.88-0.94))]. The protective associations were especially pronounced among those with lower individual-level socioeconomic status or living in places with area-level deprivation. Exploratory mediation analysis detected benefits in pathways through reducing air pollution, relieving social isolation and depression, increased physical activity and time spent outdoor, better lung function (FEV1/FVC), and having higher serum vitamin D levels.
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Sadeghian H, Naghavi H, Maleknia R, Soosani J, Pfeifer N. Estimating the attributes of urban trees using terrestrial photogrammetry. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:625. [PMID: 35908128 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10294-3] [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: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Today, different methods are used to measure two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) attributes of trees. One of these methods, which is considered in recent years is using point clouds and a 3D model extracted from terrestrial photogrammetry (TP). This study aims to estimate the 2D and 3D attributes of urban trees at three levels of seedlings, single trees and sample plot using TP. Structure-from-Motion with Multi-View Stereo-photogrammetry (SfM-MVS) method was used to derive the point clouds and the 3D model. Comparing estimated values of diameter at the middle of trunk of seedlings and diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees, using TP with measured values showed that the values of RMSE% were < 2% at three levels of seedlings, single trees and sample plot. Furthermore, validation of the estimated values of total height and crown height attributes of seedlings and trees at three levels showed that the RMSE% did not exceed 4% and 5%, respectively. Considering the overlap of tree crowns with each other in the sample plot, the average diameter of the crown attribute was estimated only in seedlings and single tree levels with RMSE% = 6.51% and 9.34%, respectively. The validation of estimated values of stem volume of seedlings and trees at three levels showed that the lowest errors were returned from trees within a sample plot with RMSE% = 14.37%, whereas the highest rates of errors were achieved for seedlings with RMSE% = 20.99%. As an alternative to approaches such as employing laser scanners, this method is quick, inexpensive, non-destructive, and does not need specialized equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Sadeghian
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, 68151-44316, Iran
| | - Hamed Naghavi
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, 68151-44316, Iran.
| | - Rahim Maleknia
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, 68151-44316, Iran
| | - Javad Soosani
- Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Lorestan, 68151-44316, Iran
| | - Norbert Pfeifer
- Department of Geodesy and Geoinformation, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
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Frantzeskaki N, Oke C, Barnett G, Bekessy S, Bush J, Fitzsimons J, Ignatieva M, Kendal D, Kingsley J, Mumaw L, Ossola A. A transformative mission for prioritising nature in Australian cities. AMBIO 2022; 51:1433-1445. [PMID: 35352304 PMCID: PMC8963402 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01725-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Australia is experiencing mounting pressures related to processes of urbanisation, biodiversity loss and climate change felt at large in cities. At the same time, it is cities that can take the leading role in pioneering approaches and solutions to respond to those coupling emergencies. In this perspective piece we respond to the following question: What are the required transformations for prioritising, valuing, maintaining and embracing nature in cities in Australia? We adopt the mission framework as an organising framework to present proposed pathways to transform Australian cities as nature-positive places of the future. We propose three interconnected pathways as starting actions to steer urban planning, policy and governance in Australian cities: First, cities need to establish evidence-based planning for nature in cities and mainstream new planning tools that safeguard and foreground urban nature. Second, collaborative planning needs to become a standard practice in cities and inclusive governance for nature in cities needs to prioritise Aboriginal knowledge systems and practices as well as look beyond what local governments can do. Third, for progressing to nature-positive cities, it is paramount to empower communities to innovate with nature across Australian cities. Whilst we focus on Australian cities, the lessons and pathways are broadly applicably globally and can inspire science-policy debates for the post COP15 biodiversity and COP26 climate change implementation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Frantzeskaki
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cathy Oke
- Connected Cities Lab, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Guy Barnett
- CSIRO Land and Water, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Sarah Bekessy
- ICON Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Australia
| | - Judy Bush
- Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James Fitzsimons
- The Nature Conservancy, Suite 2-01, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053 Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Maria Ignatieva
- School of Design, the University of Western Australia, M433, Perth, WA 6001 Australia
| | - Dave Kendal
- Healthy Landscapes Research Group, School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia
| | - Jonathan Kingsley
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, 12 Wakefield Street (Swinburne Place West), Melbourne, VIC 3122 Australia
| | - Laura Mumaw
- Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
- Gardens for Wildlife Victoria, 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South, VIC 3152 Australia
| | - Alessandro Ossola
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne, Burnley, VIC Australia
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Pathak N, Pollard KJ, McKinney A. Lifestyle Medicine Interventions for Personal and Planetary Health: The Urgent Need for Action. Am J Lifestyle Med 2022; 16:589-593. [PMID: 36072683 PMCID: PMC9442470 DOI: 10.1177/15598276221090887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The deterioration of planetary health—from threats such as climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and ocean acidification—are a growing hazard to the foundation of health and the “healthspan.” For those with chronic conditions—a large and growing subset of the global population—the health dangers are even greater. Climate change is a threat to the very pillars of lifestyle medicine that we rely on to prevent and manage chronic disease. Already, the planetary crisis is limiting our ability to prescribe healthy nutrition, safe outdoor physical activity, stress management strategies, social connection, restorative sleep, and toxic substance avoidance. In this article, we discuss the proceedings of our workshop at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) annual conference LM2021, “Lifestyle Medicine for Personal and Planetary Health.” We examine how lifestyle medicine (LM) interventions are a prescription for individual, community, and planetary health. Our prescriptions work to not only restore the health of individuals and families, but also to bolster health equity while allowing us to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of the planetary crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Pathak
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (NP)
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Chesterfield, MO, USA (KJP)
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, USA (AM)
| | - Kathryn J. Pollard
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (NP)
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Chesterfield, MO, USA (KJP)
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, USA (AM)
| | - Amanda McKinney
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (NP)
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Chesterfield, MO, USA (KJP)
- Global Sustainability Committee, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, USA (AM)
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Crown Shapes of Urban Trees-Their Dependences on Tree Species, Tree Age and Local Environment, and Effects on Ecosystem Services. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13050748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Crown shapes of common European urban tree species differ from tree species to tree species and are modified by the age of a tree and its local environment. A tree’s crown shape has a great influence on the crown volume and thus on the ecosystem service provision of a tree such as the shade area or the shade density. We used the data of 3852 tree individuals from eight German cities and the crown shape data of 528 trees for the species Acer platanoides, Acer pseudoplatanus, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fraxinus excelsior, Platanus × acerifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia and Tilia cordata to analyze tree structural dimensions and the crown volume and shade dependency on a tree’s crown shapes. Ovoid (57% of all tree individuals) and spherical (24%) crown shapes were mostly observed. However, columnar shape was observed for light-demanding R. pseudoacacia in close proximity of objects. The greatest shade areas were measured for spherical shape and the highest shade density for ovoid shape. Logistic regression analysis showed significant effects of age and distance to objects on crown shapes. Significant probability of crown shapes was found for different tree species, e.g., A. hippocastanum strongly showed half-ellipsoid crown shapes.
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Selected Research Issues of Urban Public Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095553. [PMID: 35564947 PMCID: PMC9105718 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Health is created within the urban settings of people’s everyday lives. In this paper we define Urban Public Health and compile existing evidence regarding the spatial component of health and disease in urban environments. Although there is already a substantial body of single evidence on the links between urban environments and human health, focus is mostly on individual health behaviors. We look at Urban Public Health through a structural lens that addresses health conditions beyond individual health behaviors and identify not only health risks but also health resources associated with urban structures. Based on existing conceptual frameworks, we structured evidence in the following categories: (i) build and natural environment, (ii) social environment, (iii) governance and urban development. We focused our search to review articles and reviews of reviews for each of the keywords via database PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar in order to cover the range of issues in urban environments. Our results show that linking findings from different disciplines and developing spatial thinking can overcome existing single evidence and make other correlations visible. Further research should use interdisciplinary approaches and focus on health resources and the transformation of urban structures rather than merely on health risks and behavior.
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Kang MJ, Kim HS, Kim JY. Effects of Forest-Based Interventions on Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4884. [PMID: 35457755 PMCID: PMC9031621 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Forest-based interventions are a promising alternative therapy for enhancing mental health. The current study investigated the effects of forest therapy on anxiety, depression, and negative and positive mental condition through a meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials, using the PRISMA guideline. Of 825 articles retrieved from databases including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO, 6 met the inclusion criteria. The results of this study showed that forest-based interventions improved the mental health of participants in the intervention groups when compared to those in the control groups. Thirty-four outcome variables were analyzed from six studies. The overall effect size of the forest therapy programs was 1.25 (95% CI = 0.93−1.57, p < 0.001), which was large and statistically significant. These findings imply that forest-based interventions can improve mental health as a nonpharmacological intervention. This study is significant in that it is a meta-analysis of mental health that included only high-quality domestic and international RCTs. In future studies, more RCTs related to various forest interventions and studies involving many participants should be undertaken, which will complement heterogeneity in future meta-analysis studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyun-Sun Kim
- College of Nursing, Eulji University, 712, Dongil-ro, Uijeongbu-si 11759, Korea;
| | - Ji-Yeon Kim
- College of Nursing, Eulji University, 712, Dongil-ro, Uijeongbu-si 11759, Korea;
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Conley G, McDonald RI, Nodine T, Chapman T, Holland C, Hawkins C, Beck N. Assessing the influence of urban greenness and green stormwater infrastructure on hydrology from satellite remote sensing. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 817:152723. [PMID: 34979231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), which includes features like rain gardens, constructed wetlands, or urban tree canopy, is now widely recognized as a means to reduce urban runoff impacts and meet municipal water quality permit requirements. Many co-benefits of GSI are related to increased vegetative cover, which can be measured with satellite imagery via spectral indices such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). In urban landscapes, there remain critical gaps in understanding how urban greenness and GSI influence hydrology. Here, we quantify these relationships to assess the feasibility of tracking the effectiveness of urban greening for improving downstream hydrologic conditions. We combined hydrologic data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauges with an NDVI time series (1985-2019) derived from Landsat satellite imagery, and synthesis of GSI implementation data from a set of 372 urbanized watersheds across the United States. We used a multivariate panel modeling approach to account for spatial and time varying factors (rainfall, temperature, urban cover expansion) in an effort to isolate the relationships of interest. After accounting for expansion of urban boundaries, only 32 watersheds (9%) showed significant greenness trends, a majority of which were reductions. Urban greenness had significant influences on downstream flow responses, so that on average, a 10% greenness increase showed a corresponding reduction of total flow (-3.8%), flow variance (-7.7%), peak flows (-4.7%), high flows (-7.6%), flashiness (-2.2%), and high flow frequency (-1.5%); and a corresponding increase in baseflow (4.3%). For a subset of these watersheds for which GSI data were available (n = 48), the level of GSI implementation showed a significant, but weak influence on urban greenness with a 20% increase in BMP density corresponding to a greenness increase of 0.9%. The study results may support valuation and verification of GSI co-benefits in urbanized landscapes at the watershed scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Conley
- 2NDNATURE, 500 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA.
| | - Robert I McDonald
- Center for Sustainability Science, The Nature Conservancy, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tyler Nodine
- 2NDNATURE, 500 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
| | - Teresa Chapman
- The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, 2424 Spruce Street. Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Craig Holland
- The Nature Conservancy, 322 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA
| | - Christopher Hawkins
- The Nature Conservancy in Colorado, 2424 Spruce Street. Boulder, CO 80302, USA
| | - Nicole Beck
- 2NDNATURE, 500 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
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