Natalie Mueller1, David Rojas-Rueda2, Haneen Khreis3, Marta Cirach1, David Andrés4, Joan Ballester1, Xavier Bartoll5, Carolyn Daher1, Anna Deluca1, Cynthia Echave4, Carles Milà1, Sandra Márquez1, Joan Palou4, Katherine Pérez5, Cathryn Tonne1, Mark Stevenson6, Salvador Rueda4, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen7. 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; Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. 3. ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), College Station, TX, USA; Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH), College Station, TX, USA. 4. Agència d'Ecologia Urbana de Barcelona (BCNEcologia), Barcelona, Spain. 5. Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigació Biomédica (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain. 6. Melbourne School of Design/Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia. 7. 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: Car-dependent city planning has resulted in high levels of environmental pollution, sedentary lifestyles and increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change. The Barcelona Superblock model is an innovative urban and transport planning strategy that aims to reclaim public space for people, reduce motorized transport, promote sustainable mobility and active lifestyles, provide urban greening and mitigate effects of climate change. We estimated the health impacts of implementing this urban model across Barcelona. METHODS: We carried out a quantitative health impact assessment (HIA) study for Barcelona residents ≥20 years (N = 1,301,827) on the projected Superblock area level (N = 503), following the comparative risk assessment methodology. We 1) estimated expected changes in (a) transport-related physical activity (PA), (b) air pollution (NO2), (c) road traffic noise, (d) green space, and (e) reduction of the urban heat island (UHI) effect through heat reductions; 2) scaled available risk estimates; and 3) calculated attributable health impact fractions. Estimated endpoints were preventable premature mortality, changes in life expectancy and economic impacts. RESULTS: We estimated that 667 premature deaths (95% CI: 235-1,098) could be prevented annually through implementing the 503 Superblocks. The greatest number of preventable deaths could be attributed to reductions in NO2 (291, 95% PI: 0-838), followed by noise (163, 95% CI: 83-246), heat (117, 95% CI: 101-137), and green space development (60, 95% CI: 0-119). Increased PA for an estimated 65,000 persons shifting car/motorcycle trips to public and active transport resulted in 36 preventable deaths (95% CI: 26-50). The Superblocks were estimated to result in an average increase in life expectancy for the Barcelona adult population of almost 200 days (95% CI: 99-297), and result in an annual economic impact of 1.7 billion EUR (95% CI: 0.6-2.8). DISCUSSION: The Barcelona Superblocks were estimated to help reduce harmful environmental exposures (i.e. air pollution, noise, and heat) while simultaneously increase PA levels and access to green space, and thereby provide substantial health benefits. For an equitable distribution of health benefits, the Superblocks should be implemented consistently across the entire city. Similar health benefits are expected for other cities that face similar challenges of environmental pollution, climate change vulnerability and low PA levels, by adopting the Barcelona Superblock model.
BACKGROUND: Car-dependent city planning has resulted in high levels of environmental pollution, sedentary lifestyles and increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change. The Barcelona Superblock model is an innovative urban and transport planning strategy that aims to reclaim public space for people, reduce motorized transport, promote sustainable mobility and active lifestyles, provide urban greening and mitigate effects of climate change. We estimated the health impacts of implementing this urban model across Barcelona. METHODS: We carried out a quantitative health impact assessment (HIA) study for Barcelona residents ≥20 years (N = 1,301,827) on the projected Superblock area level (N = 503), following the comparative risk assessment methodology. We 1) estimated expected changes in (a) transport-related physical activity (PA), (b) air pollution (NO2), (c) road traffic noise, (d) green space, and (e) reduction of the urban heat island (UHI) effect through heat reductions; 2) scaled available risk estimates; and 3) calculated attributable health impact fractions. Estimated endpoints were preventable premature mortality, changes in life expectancy and economic impacts. RESULTS: We estimated that 667 premature deaths (95% CI: 235-1,098) could be prevented annually through implementing the 503 Superblocks. The greatest number of preventable deaths could be attributed to reductions in NO2 (291, 95% PI: 0-838), followed by noise (163, 95% CI: 83-246), heat (117, 95% CI: 101-137), and green space development (60, 95% CI: 0-119). Increased PA for an estimated 65,000 persons shifting car/motorcycle trips to public and active transport resulted in 36 preventable deaths (95% CI: 26-50). The Superblocks were estimated to result in an average increase in life expectancy for the Barcelona adult population of almost 200 days (95% CI: 99-297), and result in an annual economic impact of 1.7 billion EUR (95% CI: 0.6-2.8). DISCUSSION: The Barcelona Superblocks were estimated to help reduce harmful environmental exposures (i.e. air pollution, noise, and heat) while simultaneously increase PA levels and access to green space, and thereby provide substantial health benefits. For an equitable distribution of health benefits, the Superblocks should be implemented consistently across the entire city. Similar health benefits are expected for other cities that face similar challenges of environmental pollution, climate change vulnerability and low PA levels, by adopting the Barcelona Superblock model.
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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
Authors: Robin Fears; Khairul Annuar B Abdullah; Claudia Canales-Holzeis; Deoraj Caussy; Andy Haines; Sherilee L Harper; Jeremy N McNeil; Johanna Mogwitz; Volker Ter Meulen Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2021-07-20 Impact factor: 11.069