Greens Spaces & Health

Payam Dadvand MD, PhD

About half of the world population is currently living in cities and there are some predictions that by 2030 three of every five persons will live in urban areas worldwide.

Urban Environment

World population growth 1950-2050. Source: Rydin 2012

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• Mechanisms:

– Reduction in exposure to air pollution, heat and noise

– Physical activity– Stress restoration– Social contact– Enriched microbiota

http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/

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Science. 1984 Apr 27;224(4647):420-1.

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Conclusions

Green spaces: - Improve mental health and physical health and well-being- Reducing socioeconomic inequalities in health- Being a major component of the sustainability of urban

environments, particularly in the context of predicted changes in future climate

- Improving biodiversity in urban areas

Green Spaces

Cons:

- Producing allergens- Generating VOCs- Pesticides- Cost of maintenance- Hosting reservoirs/carriers of infectious diseases

Green Spaces