Coastal proximity and mental health among urban adults in England: The moderating effect of household income

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordAfter adjusting for covariates, self-reported general health in England is higher among populations living closer to the coast, and the association is strongest amongst more deprived groups. We explored whether similar findings were present for mental health using cross-sectional data for urban adults in the Health Survey for England (2008-2012, N ≥25,963). For urban adults, living ≤1 km from the coast, in comparison to >50 km, was associated with better mental health as measured by the GHQ12. Stratification by household income revealed this was only amongst the lowest-earning households, and extended to ≤5 km. Our findings support the contention that, for urban adults, coastal settings may help to reduce health inequalities in England.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)European Union Horizon 202

Neighbourhood blue space, health and wellbeing: The mediating role of different types of physical activity

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordBackground: Evidence suggests that living near blue spaces such as the coast, lakes and rivers may be good for health and wellbeing. Although greater levels of physical activity (PA) may be a potential mechanism, we know little about the types of PA that might account for this. Objectives: To explore the mediating role of: a) ‘watersports’ (e.g. sailing/canoeing); b) ‘on-land outdoor PA’ in natural/mixed settings (e.g. walking/running/cycling); and, c) ‘indoor/other PA’ (e.g. gym/squash) in the relationships between residential blue space availability and health outcomes. Methods: Using data from the Health Survey for England (n = 21,097), we constructed a path model to explore whether weekly volumes of each PA type mediate any of the relationships between residential blue space availability (coastal proximity and presence of freshwater) and self-reported general and mental health, controlling for green space density and a range of socio-economic factors at the individual- and area-level. Results: Supporting predictions, living nearer the coast was associated with better self-reported general and mental health and this was partially mediated by on-land outdoor PA (primarily walking). Watersports were more common among those living within 5kms of the coast, but did not mediate associations between coastal proximity and health. Presence of freshwater in the neighbourhood was associated with better mental health, but this effect was not mediated by PA. Conclusions: Although nearby blue spaces offer potentially easier access to watersports, relatively few individuals in England engage in them and thus they do not account for positive population health associations. Rather, the benefits to health from coastal living seem, at least in part, due to participation in land-based outdoor activities (especially walking). Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms behind the relationship between freshwater presence and mental health.Kone FoundationEuropean CommissionNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)European Union Horizon 202

Personalised ecology

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThe field of ecology has focused on understanding characteristics of natural systems in a manner as free as possible from biases of human observers. However, demand is growing for knowledge of human–nature interactions at the level of individual people. This is particularly driven by concerns around human health consequences due to changes in positive and negative interactions. This requires attention to the biased ways in which people encounter and experience other organisms. Here we define such a ‘personalised ecology’, and discuss its connections to other aspects of the field. We propose a framework of focal research topics, shaped by whether the unit of analysis is a single person, a single population, or multiple populations, and whether a human or nature perspective is foremost.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC

Fisheries

This is the final version. Available from MCCIP via the DOI in this record

Monitoring the condition of Marine Renewable Energy Devices through underwater acoustic emissions: Case study of a wave energy converter in Falmouth Bay, UK

Abstract Maintaining the engineering health of Marine Renewable Energy Devices (MREDs) is one of the main limits to their economic viability, because of the requirement for costly marine interventions in challenging conditions. Acoustic Emission (AE) condition monitoring is routinely and successfully used for land-based devices, and this paper shows how it can be used underwater. We review the acoustic signatures expected from operation and likely failure modes of MREDs, providing a basis for a generic classification system. This is illustrated with a Wave Energy Converter tested at Falmouth Bay (UK), monitored for 2 years. Underwater noise levels have been measured between 10 Hz and 32 kHz throughout this time, covering operational and inactive periods. Broadband MRED contributions to ambient noise are generally negligible. Time-frequency analyses are used to detect acoustic signatures (60 Hz–5 kHz) of specific operational activities, such as the active Power Take Off, and relate them to engineering and environmental conditions. These first results demonstrate the feasibility of using underwater Acoustic Emissions to monitor the health and performance of MREDs.JW is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC grant NE/L002434/1) as part of the GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership (http://www.nercgw4plus.ac.uk/). IB is funded through the SuperGen UK Centre for Marine Energy Research (EPSRC grant EP/M014738/1). The authors would also like to thank M.J. Witt (U. Exeter) for his invaluable assistance with acoustic data collection [14] and [15], funded by ESF, PRIMaRE, MERiFIC, TSB and Fred Olsen Renewables

The effects of meteorological conditions and daylight on nature-based recreational physical activity in England

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordMeteorological conditions affect people’s outdoor physical activity. However, we know of no previous research into how these conditions affect physical activity in different types of natural environments – key settings for recreational physical activity, but ones which are particularly impacted by meteorological conditions. Using responses from four waves (2009–2013) of a survey of leisure visits to natural environments in England (n = 47,613), visit dates and locations were ascribed estimates of energy expenditure (MET-minutes) and assigned meteorological data. We explored relationships between MET-minutes in natural environments (in particular, parks, woodlands, inland waters, and coasts) and the hourly maxima of air temperature and wind speed, levels of rainfall, and daylight hours using generalised additive models. Overall, we found a positive linear relationship between MET-minutes and air temperature; a negative linear relationship with wind speed; no relation with categories of rainfall; and a positive, but non-linear relationship with daylight hours. These same trends were observed for park-based energy expenditure, but differed for visits to other natural environments: only daylight hours were related to energy expenditure at woodlands; wind speed and daylight hours affected energy expenditure at inland waters; and only air temperature was related to energy expenditure at coasts. Natural environments support recreational physical activity under a range of meteorological conditions. However, distinct conditions do differentially affect the amount of energy expenditure accumulated in a range of natural environments. The findings have implications for reducing commonly-reported meteorological barriers to both recreational physical activity and visiting natural environments for leisure, and begin to indicate how recreational energy expenditure in these environments could be affected by future climate change.National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)European Commissio

Urban nature and physical activity: Investigating associations using self-reported and accelerometer data and the role of household income

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this recordBackground Physical inactivity is a major public health concern. Natural, or semi-natural, environments may encourage physical activity, but the influences of socio-economic factors have been under-researched. Methods We explored the associations between meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines and both neighbourhood green (area coverage) and blue (freshwater coverage and coastal proximity) environments for urban adults using data from the Health Survey for England [HSE] (2008/2012). We considered different domains of self-reported PA: walking (n = 18,391), sports and other exercise (n = 18,438), non-recreational (domestic/gardening/occupational; n = 18,446) and all three domains combined (n = 18,447); as well as accelerometer-derived PA data using a subsample (n = 1,774). Relationships were stratified by equivalised household income as an indicator of socio-economic status. Results After adjusting for covariates, living 20 km, adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–1.39) but unrelated to sports and exercise. Greater neighbourhood greenspace, however, was only associated with significantly higher odds of meeting guidelines through non-recreational PA alone (e.g. 80–100% vs. <20% ORadj = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.12–1.56). Although associations were most consistent in the lowest income quintile, income-related results were mixed. Relationships were not replicated in the smaller accelerometry subsample. Conclusion Our self-report findings for the differing domains of PA as a function of neighbourhood green and blue space broadly replicated previous research, yet the reasons for the observed differences between PA domains and environments remain unclear. We did not observe any associations between environmental variables and accelerometer-measured PA; further research with larger samples is needed.European CommissionNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR

Sonic Kayaks: Environmental monitoring and experimental music by citizens

The Sonic Kayak is a musical instrument used to investigate nature and developed during open hacklab events. The kayaks are rigged with underwater environmental sensors, which allow paddlers to hear real-time water temperature sonifications and underwater sounds, generating live music from the marine world. Sensor data is also logged every second with location, time and date, which allows for fine-scale mapping of water temperatures and underwater noise that was previously unattainable using standard research equipment. The system can be used as a citizen science data collection device, research equipment for professional scientists, or a sound art installation in its own right

Airflow Dynamics of Human Jets: Sneezing and Breathing - Potential Sources of Infectious Aerosols

10.1371/journal.pone.0059970PLoS ONE84

Urban blue space renovation and local resident and visitor well-being: A case study from Plymouth, UK

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordObservational studies have suggested that people with better access to attractive, safe, and inclusive blue spaces enjoy higher psychological well-being, with particular benefits for those living in deprived urban areas. However, intervention studies are scarce. To help bridge this gap we conducted a repeat cross-sectional study exploring local resident and visitor well-being before and after a small-scale intervention aimed at improving the quality of an urban beach area in a deprived neighbourhood in Plymouth, United Kingdom. Physical alterations were co-created with local stakeholders and residents, and accompanied by a series of on-site community events. Key outcomes were self-reported psychological well-being, satisfaction with personal safety and community belonging, and perceptions of site quality. Adjusted linear models showed that positive well-being (B = 7.42; 95% CI = 4.18–10.67) and life satisfaction (B = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.11–0.70) were both higher after the intervention compared to before, with associations for life satisfaction stronger among those who visited the site in the last four weeks. Associations with positive well-being were partially mediated by greater satisfaction with community belonging; and associations with life satisfaction were partially and independently mediated by greater satisfaction with personal safety and community belonging. Although caution needs to be taken due to the repeat cross-sectional design and the sampling of site visitors as well as local residents, the findings support the idea that environmental improvements to urban blue spaces can foster better psychological well-being, and underline the importance of community involvement in the process.European Union Horizon 2020Amsterdam Public Health Research Institut