Natalie Mueller1, David Rojas-Rueda1, Haneen Khreis2, Marta Cirach1, Carles Milà1, Ana Espinosa1, Maria Foraster3, Rosemary R C McEachan4, Brian Kelly4, John Wright4, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen5. 1. ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. 2. ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), College Station, TX, USA. 3. ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llul, Barcelona, Spain. 4. Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, United Kingdom. 5. ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: mark.nieuwenhuijsen@isglobal.org.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cities have unique geographic, environmental and sociocultural characteristics that influence the health status of their citizens. Identification and modification of these characteristics may help to promote healthier cities. OBJECTIVE: We estimated premature mortality impacts of breaching international exposure guidelines for physical activity (PA), air pollution, noise and access to green space for Bradford (UK) adult residents (n = 393,091). METHODS: We applied the Urban and TranspOrt Planning Health Impact Assessment (UTOPHIA) methodology and estimated mortality, life expectancy (LE) and economic impacts of non-compliance with recommended exposure levels. We also investigated the distribution of the mortality burden among the population, focusing on socioeconomic position (SEP) as defined by deprivation status and ethnicity. RESULTS: We estimated that annually almost 10% of premature mortality (i.e. 375 deaths, 95% CI: 276-474) in Bradford is attributable to non-compliance with recommended exposure levels. Non-compliance was also estimated to result in over 300 days of LE lost (95% CI: 238-432), which translated in economic losses of over £50,000 per person (95% CI: 38,518-69,991). 90% of the premature mortality impact resulted from insufficient PA performance. Air and noise pollution and the lack of green space had smaller impacts (i.e. 48 deaths). Residents of lower SEP neighborhoods had the highest risks for adverse exposure and premature death. A larger number of deaths (i.e. 253 and 145, respectively) could be prevented by reducing air and noise pollution levels well below the guidelines. DISCUSSION: Current urban and transport planning related exposures result in a considerable health burden that is unequally distributed among the Bradford population. Improvements in urban and transport planning practices including the reduction of motor traffic and the promotion of active transport together with greening of the district, particularly in areas of lower SEP, are promising strategies to increase PA performance and reduce harmful environmental exposures.
BACKGROUND: Cities have unique geographic, environmental and sociocultural characteristics that influence the health status of their citizens. Identification and modification of these characteristics may help to promote healthier cities. OBJECTIVE: We estimated premature mortality impacts of breaching international exposure guidelines for physical activity (PA), air pollution, noise and access to green space for Bradford (UK) adult residents (n = 393,091). METHODS: We applied the Urban and TranspOrt Planning Health Impact Assessment (UTOPHIA) methodology and estimated mortality, life expectancy (LE) and economic impacts of non-compliance with recommended exposure levels. We also investigated the distribution of the mortality burden among the population, focusing on socioeconomic position (SEP) as defined by deprivation status and ethnicity. RESULTS: We estimated that annually almost 10% of premature mortality (i.e. 375 deaths, 95% CI: 276-474) in Bradford is attributable to non-compliance with recommended exposure levels. Non-compliance was also estimated to result in over 300 days of LE lost (95% CI: 238-432), which translated in economic losses of over £50,000 per person (95% CI: 38,518-69,991). 90% of the premature mortality impact resulted from insufficient PA performance. Air and noise pollution and the lack of green space had smaller impacts (i.e. 48 deaths). Residents of lower SEP neighborhoods had the highest risks for adverse exposure and premature death. A larger number of deaths (i.e. 253 and 145, respectively) could be prevented by reducing air and noise pollution levels well below the guidelines. DISCUSSION: Current urban and transport planning related exposures result in a considerable health burden that is unequally distributed among the Bradford population. Improvements in urban and transport planning practices including the reduction of motor traffic and the promotion of active transport together with greening of the district, particularly in areas of lower SEP, are promising strategies to increase PA performance and reduce harmful environmental exposures.
Authors: Veronica A Southerland; Susan C Anenberg; Maria Harris; Joshua Apte; Perry Hystad; Aaron van Donkelaar; Randall V Martin; Matt Beyers; Ananya Roy Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2021-03-31 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Edward Randal; Caroline Shaw; Melissa McLeod; Michael Keall; Alistair Woodward; Anja Mizdrak Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Alessandro Rigolon; Matthew H E M Browning; Olivia McAnirlin; Hyunseo Violet Yoon Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-04 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen; Jose Barrera-Gómez; Xavier Basagaña; Marta Cirach; Carolyn Daher; Maria Foraster Pulido; Tamara Iungman; Antonio Gasparrini; Gerard Hoek; Kees de Hoogh; Sasha Khomenko; Haneen Khreis; Audrey de Nazelle; Ana Ramos; David Rojas-Rueda; Evelise Pereira Barboza; Marko Tainio; Meelan Thondoo; Cathryn Tonne; James Woodcock; N Mueller Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-01-20 Impact factor: 2.692