Ian Alcock1, Mathew White2, Mark Cherrie3, Benedict Wheeler2, Jonathon Taylor4, Rachel McInnes5, Eveline Otte Im Kampe6, Sotiris Vardoulakis7, Christophe Sarran8, Ireneous Soyiri9, Lora Fleming2. 1. University of Exeter, United Kingdom. Electronic address: i.alcock@exeter.ac.uk. 2. University of Exeter, United Kingdom. 3. University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom; University of Exeter, United Kingdom. 4. University College London, United Kingdom. 5. MetOffice, United Kingdom; University of Exeter, United Kingdom. 6. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom. 7. Institute of Occupational Medicine, United Kingdom; Public Health England, United Kingdom; University of Exeter, United Kingdom. 8. MetOffice, United Kingdom. 9. University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is increasing policy interest in the potential for vegetation in urban areas to mitigate harmful effects of air pollution on respiratory health. We aimed to quantify relationships between tree and green space density and asthma-related hospitalisations, and explore how these varied with exposure to background air pollution concentrations. METHODS: Population standardised asthma hospitalisation rates (1997-2012) for 26,455 urban residential areas of England were merged with area-level data on vegetation and background air pollutant concentrations. We fitted negative binomial regression models using maximum likelihood estimation to obtain estimates of asthma-vegetation relationships at different levels of pollutant exposure. RESULTS: Green space and gardens were associated with reductions in asthma hospitalisation when pollutant exposures were lower but had no significant association when pollutant exposures were higher. In contrast, tree density was associated with reduced asthma hospitalisation when pollutant exposures were higher but had no significant association when pollutant exposures were lower. CONCLUSIONS: We found differential effects of natural environments at high and low background pollutant concentrations. These findings can provide evidence for urban planning decisions which aim to leverage health co-benefits from environmental improvements.
BACKGROUND: There is increasing policy interest in the potential for vegetation in urban areas to mitigate harmful effects of air pollution on respiratory health. We aimed to quantify relationships between tree and green space density and asthma-related hospitalisations, and explore how these varied with exposure to background air pollution concentrations. METHODS: Population standardised asthma hospitalisation rates (1997-2012) for 26,455 urban residential areas of England were merged with area-level data on vegetation and background air pollutant concentrations. We fitted negative binomial regression models using maximum likelihood estimation to obtain estimates of asthma-vegetation relationships at different levels of pollutant exposure. RESULTS: Green space and gardens were associated with reductions in asthma hospitalisation when pollutant exposures were lower but had no significant association when pollutant exposures were higher. In contrast, tree density was associated with reduced asthma hospitalisation when pollutant exposures were higher but had no significant association when pollutant exposures were lower. CONCLUSIONS: We found differential effects of natural environments at high and low background pollutant concentrations. These findings can provide evidence for urban planning decisions which aim to leverage health co-benefits from environmental improvements.
Authors: Anneclaire J De Roos; Chén C Kenyon; Yun-Ting Yen; Kari Moore; Steven Melly; Rebecca A Hubbard; Mitchell Maltenfort; Christopher B Forrest; Ana V Diez Roux; Leah H Schinasi Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2022-04-25 Impact factor: 5.801
Authors: Diana Rohlman; Holly M Dixon; Laurel Kincl; Andrew Larkin; Richard Evoy; Michael Barton; Aaron Phillips; Elena Peterson; Christopher Scaffidi; Julie B Herbstman; Katrina M Waters; Kim A Anderson Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2019-07-01 Impact factor: 3.295