Work

Urban green spaces, self-rated air pollution and health: A sensitivity analysis of green space characteristics and proximity in four European cities

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Exploring the influence of green space characteristics and proximity on health via air pollution mitigation, our study analysed data from 1,365 participants across Porto, Nantes, Sofia, and Høje-Taastrup. Utilizing OpenStreetMap and the AID-PRIGSHARE tool, we generated nine green space indicators around residential addresses at 15 distances, ranging from 100m to 1500m. We performed a mediation analysis for these 135 green space variables and revealed significant associations between self-rated air pollution and self-rated health for specific green space characteristics. In our study, indirect positive effects on health via air pollution were mainly associated with green corridors in intermediate Euclidean distances (800-1,000m) and the amount of accessible green spaces in larger network distances (1,400-1,500m). Our results suggest that the amount of connected green spaces measured in intermediate surroundings seems to be a prime green space characteristic that could drive the air pollution mitigation pathway to health.

Source: Health & Place

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103300

Authors: Marcel Cardinali, Mariëlle A. Beenackers, Arjan van Timmeren, Uta Pottgiesser

Institutions: Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus MC

Language: English

Topic: Urban Green Space and Health

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,280