Characterisation of the natural environment: quantitative indicators across Europe

Background: The World Health Organization recognises the importance of natural environments for human health. Evidence for natural environment-health associations comes largely from single countries or regions, with varied approaches to measuring natural environment exposure. We present a standardised approach to measuring neighbourhood natural environment exposure in cities in different regions of Europe. Methods: The Positive health effects on the natural outdoor environment in typical populations of different regions in Europe (PHENOTYPE) study aimed to explore the mechanisms linking natural environment exposure and health in four European cities (Barcelona, Spain; Doetinchem, the Netherlands; Kaunas, Lithuania; and Stoke-on-Trent, UK). Common GIS protocols were used to develop a hierarchy of natural environment measures, from simple measures (e.g., NDVI, Urban Atlas) using Europe-wide data sources, to detailed measures derived from local data that were specific to mechanisms thought to underpin natural environment-health associations (physical activity, social interaction, stress reduction/restoration). Indicators were created around residential addresses for a range of straight line and network buffers (100m to 1km). Results: For simple indicators derived from Europe-wide data, we observed differences between cities, which varied with different indicators (e.g., Kaunas and Doetinchem had equal highest mean NDVI within 100m buffer, but mean distance to nearest natural environment in Kaunas was more twice that in Doetinchem). Mean distance to nearest natural environment for all cities suggested that most participants lived close to some kind of natural environments (64±58 to 363±281m; mean 180±204m). The detailed classification highlighted marked between-city differences in terms of prominent types of natural environment. Indicators specific to mechanisms derived from this classification also captured more variation than the simple indicators. Distance to nearest and count indicators showed clear differences between cities, and the those specific to the mechanisms showed within-city differences for Barcelona and Doetinchem. Conclusions: This paper demonstrates the feasibility and challenges of creating comparable GIS-derived natural environment exposure indicators across diverse European cities. Mechanism-specific indicators showed within- and between-city variability that suggests their utility for ecological studies, which could inform more specific policy recommendations than the traditional proxies for natural environment access

Development of the natural environment scoring tool (NEST)

Natural environments (green and blue space) are associated with a range of health benefits, but their use is likely to be influenced by the presence of features, facilities and amenities and the condition/maintenance, or the natural environment quality. Most 'quality' assessment tools have focused on green spaces and their support for physical activity. This limits their utility for assessment of other natural environment typologies and uses (e.g., social, relaxation). We aimed to develop a tool for feasible, in situ assessment of diverse natural environments that might support a variety of uses, and to explore associations between natural environment quality and objectively measured amount of natural environment and neighbourhood-level socio-economic status (SES). This work was conducted as part of the PHENOTYPE project. Data were collected in 124 neighbourhoods in four European cities (Barcelona, Doetinchem, Kaunas, Stoke-on-Trent). The Natural Environment Scoring Tool (NEST) was developed using existing tools, expert input and field-testing. The final tool comprised 47-items across eight domains: Accessibility, Recreation facilities, Amenities, Aesthetics- natural, Aesthetics- non-natural, Significant natural features, Incivilities and Usability; typology-specific Overall Scores were derived. In total, 174 natural environments, covering a range of typologies, were audited. Mean time to complete NEST was 16±28 min. There was good inter-rater agreement. Mean domain scores showed some expected patterns by typology (e.g., higher Recreation Facilities scores in urban parks and formal recreation areas; lower Amenities scores in natural/semi-natural areas). Highest mean Overall Scores were observed for areas of blue space and woodland, the types of area that often lack the recreational facilities or amenities that can be dominant in physical activity-focused audit tools. There was a trend towards lower natural environment quality in neighbourhoods of lower SES, with some inter-city variation. Correlations between NEST scores and amount of natural environment indicated higher natural environment in areas with worse access. We recommend further testing of NEST in other locations in relation to use and health outcomes

Estimation of individual exposure to nitrogen dioxide and its relation to adverse pregnancy outcomes in Kaunas

Aplinkos epidemiologinių tyrimų duomenimis, transporto išmetami oro teršalai gali kelti pavojų sveikatai netgi tuomet, kai jų koncentracija neviršija nustatytos ribinės. Nustatyta, kad net ir nedidelis nuolatinis oro užterštumas turi neigiamos įtakos gyventojų sveikatai, o ypač jautriausiai toksinių medžiagų poveikiui populiacijos daliai – besivystančiam vaisiui, naujagimiams ir vaikams. Daugiausia teršalų į aplinką išmeta automobilių transportas. Urbanizuotose teritorijose didžiąją oro teršalų dalį sudaro azoto dioksidas (NO2). Įvairiose šalyse atlikti epidemiologiniai tyrimai nustatė įvairaus stiprumo ryšį tarp oro taršos NO2 ir nepalankių nėštumo baigčių rizikos. Mokslinio darbo tikslas – nustatyti individualią ekspoziciją azoto dioksidu ir ištirti NO2 ekspozicijos ryšį su nepalankiomis nėštumo baigtimis Kauno mieste. Darbo mokslinis naujumas. Pirmą kartą Lietuvoje, naudojant Airviro dispersijos modelį ir Ogawa pasyvius kaupiklius, patikrintas NO2 sklaidos modeliavimo jautrumas. Naudojant Airviro dispersijos modelį, sumodeliuota oro taršos azoto dioksidu sklaida Kauno mieste, skirta individualiai tyrimo dalyvių ekspozicijai charakterizuoti. Kaune, pirmą kartą naudojant GIS individualiai nėščių moterų gyvenamosios vietos ekspozicijai vertinti ir, kontroliuojant ryšį iškreipiančiųjų veiksnių įtaką, nustatytas NO2 poveikis nepalankių nėštumo baigčių rizikai. Darbe tirta priklausomybė tarp azoto dioksido ekspozicijos dydžio ir tokių nepalankių nėštumo baigčių: mažos naujagimių kūno masės, laiku gimusių mažos naujagimių kūno masės, mažų pagal gestacijos amžių naujagimių ir prieš laiką gimusių naujagimių. Naudojant individualią azoto dioksido ekspoziciją gyvenamoje vietoje ir daugiaveiksnės analizės metu kontroliuojant svarbiausius ryšį iškreipiančiuosius veiksnius, nustatytas nuoseklus rizikos didėjimas, didėjant ekspozicijai.There is now some epidemiological evidence concerning adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution on pregnancy outcomes and infant health. The evidence is suggestive of causality for the association of birth weight with air pollution, although for preterm birth and fetal growth, the current evidence is insufficient to infer a causal relationship and effects were not always consistent between studies. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is considered as a marker for air pollution from traffic associated with health effects. In addition, a number of epidemiological studies have found various level relationships between exposures to traffic-related NO2, suggesting that exposure to these air pollutants may increase a woman’s risk for adverse birth outcomes. The objective of the study was to assess individual maternal exposure to NO2 during pregnancy and to analyse the links between the exposure and pregnancy outcomes. Scientific novelty and significance. For the first time in Lithuania seeking to improve the NO2 exposure assessment for study population we used GIS for individual exposure assessment. Furthermore, we verified sensitivity of the Airviro dispersion modelling NO2 in Kaunas by using Ogawa passive samplers. For the first time in Lithuania using GIS for individual maternal exposure assessment and controlling for influence of potential confounding variables, it was evaluated the effects of NO2 exposure for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Outcomes of interest related to low birth weight (LBW), term low birth weight (TLBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth (PB). Controlling confounding variables, strongest relation between adverse pregnancy outcomes and NO2 levels has increased with increasing ambient air NO2 exposure.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Individualios ekspozicijos azoto dioksidu nustatymas ir ryšio su nepalankiomis nėštumo baigtimis tyrimas Kauno mieste

There is now some epidemiological evidence concerning adverse effects of traffic-related air pollution on pregnancy outcomes and infant health. The evidence is suggestive of causality for the association of birth weight with air pollution, although for preterm birth and fetal growth, the current evidence is insufficient to infer a causal relationship and effects were not always consistent between studies. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is considered as a marker for air pollution from traffic associated with health effects. In addition, a number of epidemiological studies have found various level relationships between exposures to traffic-related NO2, suggesting that exposure to these air pollutants may increase a woman’s risk for adverse birth outcomes. The objective of the study was to assess individual maternal exposure to NO2 during pregnancy and to analyse the links between the exposure and pregnancy outcomes. Scientific novelty and significance. For the first time in Lithuania seeking to improve the NO2 exposure assessment for study population we used GIS for individual exposure assessment. Furthermore, we verified sensitivity of the Airviro dispersion modelling NO2 in Kaunas by using Ogawa passive samplers. For the first time in Lithuania using GIS for individual maternal exposure assessment and controlling for influence of potential confounding variables, it was evaluated the effects of NO2 exposure for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Outcomes of interest related to low birth weight (LBW), term low birth weight (TLBW), small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth (PB). Controlling confounding variables, strongest relation between adverse pregnancy outcomes and NO2 levels has increased with increasing ambient air NO2 exposure.Aplinkos epidemiologinių tyrimų duomenimis, transporto išmetami oro teršalai gali kelti pavojų sveikatai netgi tuomet, kai jų koncentracija neviršija nustatytos ribinės. Nustatyta, kad net ir nedidelis nuolatinis oro užterštumas turi neigiamos įtakos gyventojų sveikatai, o ypač jautriausiai toksinių medžiagų poveikiui populiacijos daliai – besivystančiam vaisiui, naujagimiams ir vaikams. Daugiausia teršalų į aplinką išmeta automobilių transportas. Urbanizuotose teritorijose didžiąją oro teršalų dalį sudaro azoto dioksidas (NO2). Įvairiose šalyse atlikti epidemiologiniai tyrimai nustatė įvairaus stiprumo ryšį tarp oro taršos NO2 ir nepalankių nėštumo baigčių rizikos. Mokslinio darbo tikslas – nustatyti individualią ekspoziciją azoto dioksidu ir ištirti NO2 ekspozicijos ryšį su nepalankiomis nėštumo baigtimis Kauno mieste. Darbo mokslinis naujumas. Pirmą kartą Lietuvoje, naudojant Airviro dispersijos modelį ir Ogawa pasyvius kaupiklius, patikrintas NO2 sklaidos modeliavimo jautrumas. Naudojant Airviro dispersijos modelį, sumodeliuota oro taršos azoto dioksidu sklaida Kauno mieste, skirta individualiai tyrimo dalyvių ekspozicijai charakterizuoti. Kaune, pirmą kartą naudojant GIS individualiai nėščių moterų gyvenamosios vietos ekspozicijai vertinti ir, kontroliuojant ryšį iškreipiančiųjų veiksnių įtaką, nustatytas NO2 poveikis nepalankių nėštumo baigčių rizikai. Darbe tirta priklausomybė tarp azoto dioksido ekspozicijos dydžio ir tokių nepalankių nėštumo baigčių: mažos naujagimių kūno masės, laiku gimusių mažos naujagimių kūno masės, mažų pagal gestacijos amžių naujagimių ir prieš laiką gimusių naujagimių. Naudojant individualią azoto dioksido ekspoziciją gyvenamoje vietoje ir daugiaveiksnės analizės metu kontroliuojant svarbiausius ryšį iškreipiančiuosius veiksnius, nustatytas nuoseklus rizikos didėjimas, didėjant ekspozicijai.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Effects of Individual and Environmental Factors on GPS-Based Time Allocation in Urban Microenvironments Using GIS

Time-activity patterns are an essential part of personal exposure assessment to various environmental factors. People move through different environments during the day and they have different daily activity patterns which are significantly influenced by individual characteristics and the residential environment. In this study, time spent in different microenvironments (MEs) were assessed for 125 participants for 7 consecutive days to evaluate the impact of individual characteristics on time-activity patterns in Kaunas, Lithuania. The data were collected with personal questionnaires and diaries. The global positioning system (GPS) sensor integrated into a smartphone was used to track daily movements and to assess time-activity patterns. The study results showed that behavioral and residential greenness have a statistically significant impact on time spent indoors. These results underline the high influence of the individual characteristics and environmental factors on time spent indoors, which is an important determinant for exposure assessment and health impact assessment studies

Promoting Sustainable Mobility: A Perspective from Car and Public Transport Users

Sustainable mobility is becoming a key factor in improving the quality of life of the residents and increasing physical activity (PA) levels. The current situation of sustainable mobility and its analysis is a first step in understanding the factors that would encourage residents to discover and choose alternative modes of travel. The present study examined the factors that encourage the choice of active modes of travel among urban adult population. Walking and cycling were analyzed as the most sustainable forms of urban mobility from the perspective of car and public transport (PT) users. Total of 902 subjects aged 18 years or older were analyzed in the study to assess commuting habits in Kaunas city, Lithuania. The majority (61.1%) of the respondents used a passenger vehicle, 28.2% used PT, and only 13.5% used active modes of travel. The results showed that safer pedestrian crossings, and comfortable paths were the most significant factors that encourage walking. A wider cycling network, and bicycle safety were the most important incentives for the promotion of cycling. Our findings show that the main factors encouraging walking and cycling among car and PT users are similar, however, the individual characteristics that determine the choice of these factors vary significantly

Individualios ekspozicijos azoto dioksidu nustatymas ir ryšio su nepalankiomis nėštumo baigtimis tyrimas Kauno mieste : daktaro disertacija : biomedicinos mokslai, ekologija ir aplinkotyra (03 B)

Disertacija rengta 2007-2011 metais Vytauto Didžiojo universiteteBibliogr.: p. 74-86Aplinkotyros katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

The estimation of nitrogen dioxide using ADMS-Urban model in Kėdainiai

Tarša azoto dioksidu (NO2) yra viena svarbiausių miesto oro taršos problemų. Didţiausios šio teršalo emisijos yra iš automobilių transporto. Patekęs į ţmogaus organizmą NO2 dirgina kvėpavimo takus, gali sumaţinti plaučių atsparumą infekcijoms, sukelti plaučių edemą ir kitus sveikatos pakenkimus. Vienas iš plačiai taikomų aplinkos oro kokybės vertinimo metodų, leidţiantis nustatyti oro uţterštumo lygį ir tiksliau įvertinti erdvinį teršalų pasiskirstymą mieste, yra oro teršalų sklaidos modeliavimas. Tyrimo tikslas – atlikti oro taršos NO2 analizę bei naudojant ADMS-Urban dispersijos modelį, nustatyti šio teršalo sklaidą Kėdainių mieste. Naudojant dispersinį ADMS-Urban modelį, buvo sumodeliuota vidutinė metinė NO2 koncentracija Kėdainių mieste. Atlikus modeliavimą ADMS-Urban programa, nustatyta, kad didţiausia NO2 koncentracija buvo prie J. Basanavičiaus gatvės, transporto srautas labai intensyvus (825 transporto priemonės per valandą). Tolstant nuo šios gatvės, NO2 koncentracija maţėjo. Analizuojant stacionarius oro taršos šaltinius, didţiausią įtaką Kėdainių miesto oro taršai NO2 turėjo ŢŪKB „Krekenavos mėsa“ – 35,03 t/m., AB „Tramonta“ – 10,99 t/m. ir AB „Nordic Sugar Kėdainiai“ – 7,52 t/mAplinkotyros katedraGamtos mokslų fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

The assessment of particulate matter Pollution in Kaunas districts

ISSN 2010-3778 (Electronic)Air pollution is major problem, especially in large cities, causing a variety of environmental issues and a risk to human health effects. In order to observe air quality, to reduce and control air pollution in the city, municipalities are responsible for the creation of air quality management plans, air quality monitoring and emission inventories. Atmospheric dispersion modelling systems, along with monitoring, are powerful tools, which can be used not only for air quality management, but for the assessment of human exposure to air pollution. These models are widely used in epidemiological studies, which try to determine the associations between exposure to air pollution and the adverse health effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of particulate matter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) in different districts of Kaunas city during winter season. ADMS-Urban dispersion model was used for the simulation of PM10 pollution. The inputs of the model were the characteristics of stationary, traffic and domestic sources, emission data, meteorology and background concentrations were entered in the model. To assess the modelled concentrations of PM10 in Kaunas districts, geographic information system (GIS) was used. More detailed analysis was made using Spatial Analyst tools. The modelling results showed that the average concentration of PM10 during winter season in Kaunas city was 24.8 μg/m3. The highest PM10 levels were determined in Zaliakalnis and Aleksotas districts with are the highest number of individual residential properties, 32.0±5.2 and 28.7±8.2 μg/m3, respectively. The lowest pollution of PM10 was modelled in Petrasiunai district (18.4 μg/m3), which is characterized as commercial and industrial neighbourhoodAplinkotyros katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

The comparison between modelled and measured nitrogen dioxide concentrations in cold and warm seasons in Kaunas

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (WASET) conference, February 23-24, 2015 Paris, FranceAplinkotyros katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta