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