Natural outdoor environments and mental and physical health: Relationships and mechanisms

Background Evidence is growing for the beneficial impacts of natural outdoor environments on health. However, most of the evidence has focused on green spaces and little evidence is available on health benefits of blue spaces and about possible mediators and modifiers of such impacts. We investigated the association between natural outdoor environments (separately for green and blue spaces) and health (general and mental) and its possible mediators and modifiers. Methods Cross-sectional data from adults interviewed in Catalonia (Spain) between 2010 and 2012 as part of the Catalonia Health Survey were used. The collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, self-perceived general health, mental health, physical activity and social support. Indicators of surrounding greenness and access to natural outdoor environments within 300 m of the residence and degree of urbanization were derived for residential addresses. Associations were estimated using logistic regression and negative binominal models. Results Green spaces were associated with better self-perceived general health and better mental health, independent of degree of urbanization. The associations were more consistent for surrounding greenness than for access to green spaces. The results were consistent for different buffers, and when stratifying for socioeconomic status. Slightly stronger associations were found for women and residents of non-densely populated areas. No association was found between green spaces and social contacts and physical activity. The results for blue spaces were not conclusive. Conclusion Green spaces are associated with better general and mental health across strata of urbanization, socioeconomic status, and genders. Mechanisms other than physical activity or social support may explain these associations

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

Natural outdoor environments and mental health: Stress as a possible mechanism.

INTRODUCTION Better mental health has been associated with exposure to natural outdoor environments (NOE). However, comprehensive studies including several indicators of exposure and outcomes, potential effect modifiers and mediators are scarce. OBJECTIVES We used novel, objective measures to explore the relationships between exposure to NOE (i.e. residential availability and contact) and different indicators of mental health, and possible modifiers and mediators. METHODS A nested cross-sectional study was conducted in: Barcelona, Spain; Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom; Doetinchem, Netherlands; Kaunas, Lithuania. Participants' exposure to NOE (including both surrounding greenness and green and/or blue spaces) was measured in terms of (a) amount in their residential environment (using Geographical Information Systems) and (b) their contact with NOE (using smartphone data collected over seven days). Self-reported information was collected for mental health (psychological wellbeing, sleep quality, vitality, and somatisation), and potential effect modifiers (gender, age, education level, and city) and mediators (perceived stress and social contacts), with additional objective NOE physical activity (potential mediator) derived from smartphone accelerometers. RESULTS Analysis of data from 406 participants showed no statistically significant associations linking mental health and residential NOE exposure. However, NOE contact, especially surrounding greenness, was statistically significantly tied to better mental health. There were indications that these relationships were stronger for males, younger people, low-medium educated, and Doetinchem residents. Perceived stress was a mediator of most associations, and physical activity and social contacts were not. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that contact with NOE benefits mental health. Our results also suggest that having contact with NOE that can facilitate stress reduction could be particularly beneficial

Drinking water quality and newborns health

Epidemiologinių tyrimų duomenimis, cheminė vandens tarša gali didinti vaisiaus raidos riziką. Tačiau iki šiol nėra vieningos epidemiologų nuomonės ar geriamojo vandens kokybė gali turėti įtakos reprodukcijai. Šio tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti ar geležies ir mangano koncentracijos, viršijančios higienos normas, didina vaisiaus vystimosi sutrikimus. Atliktas aplinkos epidemiologinis tyrimas apėmė visus naujagimius, gimusius Kaune. Visi mažo kūno masės naujagimiai gimę laiku sudarė atvejų grupę, o į kontrolinę grupę buvo priskirti kūdikiai, gimę 2500 g ir didesnio svorio. Daugiaveiksnės analizės duomenimis, moterys, gyvenančios mikrorajonuose, kuriuose vandentiekio vandenyje buvo didelės geležies ir mangano koncentracijos, turėjo 70 proc. didesnę vaisiaus vystimosi sutrikimų riziką, negu mikrorajonuose, kuriuose buvo tiekiamas aukštos kokybės geriamasis vanduo (SRS 1,70; 95 proc. PI 1,07-2,71)Although drinking water contaminants might increase the risk for foetal development, it is unknown whether iron and manganese presenting in drinking water have effects on reproduction. We investigated whether iron and manganese was risk factors for foetal growth retardation. We conducted a case-control study in Kaunas newborns cohort. Cases were term low birth weight (LBW) newborns and controls were normal birth weight newborns. Adjusting for selected term LBW risk factors, women which used drinking water with high iron and manganese concentrations, had increased foetal growth risk than these whose used high quality drinking water (AOR=1.70; 95 % CI 1.07-2.71)Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Aplinka ir sveikata : [mokomoji knyga]

Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Aplinkos epidemiologija

Bibliogr. sk. galeVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Aplinkos politika

Bibliogr. sk. galeVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Aplinka ir sveikata : praktiniai darbai

Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Implementation of EU environmental policy : HI-WATE project for improving of drinking water quality

Epidemiologinių tyrimų duomenimis, geriamąjį vandenį dezinfekuojant chloru susidaro pašaliniai junginiai, kurie didina naujagimių sveikatos pažeidimus bei vėžio tikimybę. Įgyvendinant Europos Sąjungos programą, skirtą maisto kokybei ir saugumui gerinti, geriamojo vandens saugumo politikai skiriamas prioritetinis dėmesys. Pradedamas Europos Komisijos 6-sios programos mokslo ir technologijos inovacinis projektas, kurio kodinis pavadinimas HI-WATE. Projekto tikslas – nustatyti geriamojo vandens dezinfekcijos pašalinių produktų poveikį žmonių sveikatai ir sukurti saugius standartus geriamojo vandens dezinfekavimo politikai Europos bendrijoje įgyvendinti. Projekte dalyvauja 14 Europos Sąjungos dalyvių, tarp jų ir Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas. Vykdant kompleksinį projektą Hi-WATE, bus gautos naujos mokslo žinios apie vandentiekio tiekiamajame vandenyje dezinfekcijos metu susidarančius pašalinius junginius, jų koncentracijas bei jų poveikį labiausiai pažeidžiamoms žmonių grupėms, tarp jų ir naujagimių sveikatai. Tyrimų rezultatus diegiant į praktiką bus sukurtos bendros duomenų bazės, kurios tarnaus vandens taršai modeliuoti, nustatyti geriamojo vandens dezinfekcijos pašalinių produktų keliamos rizikos dydį žmonių sveikatai ir sukurti saugius standartus geriamojo vandens dezinfekavimo politikai Europos bendrijoje įgyvendintiThe FP6 Specific Targeted Research and Innovation project HiWATE aims to investigate potential human health risks associated with long-term exposure to low levels of disinfectants (such as chlorine) and disinfectant by-products occurring in water for human consumption and use in the food industry. The study will comprise risk/benefit analyses including quantitative assessments of risk associated with microbial contamination of drinking water versus chemical risk and will compare alternative treatment options. The outcome will be improved risk assessment and management. The environmental epidemiological study will provide risk estimates for a risk benefit analysis in European populations (UK, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden) and will make it possible to better understand, assess and control risks of reproductive effects and cancer in European populations from exposure to disinfectant by-products and to develop guidelines for drinking water disinfection policy across EuropeVytauto Didžiojo universiteta