Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side?
As of 2018, 55.3% of the world’s population was found to live in cities. That is over half of the human population! In the United States of America, the percentage is 82.3%. Not only that, but the trend towards people living in cities (called urbanization) continues to rise.
The increase in urbanization has caused many people to wonder about the effects of city living on human health, and how possible negative health effects can be reduced. A common belief is that asthma, a chronic (long-term) lung disease, is more prevalent in urban areas due to the increased pollution levels.
An example of research on this topic is an Australian study that attempted to find a correlation between poor health and elements of urbanization. Data spanning 10 years was analyzed and caregivers of children were interviewed in order to determine the effects of green space and high levels of traffic on asthma in the children. Green spaces are areas of grass, trees, or other elements of the natural world set in an urban environment, such as parks. The socioeconomic status—which relied on factors including caregiver income and educational level—of these children was taken into account. After all of this data was collected, the researchers’ analysis found that there was not really a correlation between green space and asthma symptoms in the children. However, they did find a correlation between levels of traffic (which correspond to air pollution) and asthma.
The increase in urbanization has caused many people to wonder about the effects of city living on human health, and how possible negative health effects can be reduced. A common belief is that asthma, a chronic (long-term) lung disease, is more prevalent in urban areas due to the increased pollution levels.
An example of research on this topic is an Australian study that attempted to find a correlation between poor health and elements of urbanization. Data spanning 10 years was analyzed and caregivers of children were interviewed in order to determine the effects of green space and high levels of traffic on asthma in the children. Green spaces are areas of grass, trees, or other elements of the natural world set in an urban environment, such as parks. The socioeconomic status—which relied on factors including caregiver income and educational level—of these children was taken into account. After all of this data was collected, the researchers’ analysis found that there was not really a correlation between green space and asthma symptoms in the children. However, they did find a correlation between levels of traffic (which correspond to air pollution) and asthma.
Traffic and air pollution might be linked, so living in an urban area with heavy traffic could contribute to respiratory conditions including asthma.
Image Source: Alden Skeie
This might seem like a definite answer to the question about city living producing more asthma, but this study had many limitations. For example, green spaces were measured by quality (how large they were, how safe they were) instead of quantity (how many there were), which could have led to a different conclusion. Also, the study relied on questioning the caregivers about whether their children had asthma or not, which may have produced subjective answers. More objective ways to gather data would be better, such as having a doctor specifically assess the conditions of these children’s lungs. Furthermore, the study assumed that there was a correlation between traffic and air pollution, which is not always necessarily true.
This study calls for future research on these topics, such as other tests to measure air pollution, the quantity of green spaces, and other important factors in possible childhood asthma. Despite its imperfections, it still brings an important issue to the table: is urbanization related to asthma?
This question is important to answer as the world grows more and more urban. Parents want to do what is best for their children, and if the way cities are built can aid people to become healthier, then measures should be taken in order to promote public health. Less car-oriented, more people-oriented walkable cities with green spaces could be, with more studies, shown to be the way of the future. Environmental justice, the idea that every single person has the right to live in a healthy environment and to be protected from environmental health hazards, is an important concept that aligns with what this article has outlined. Environmental justice is already being put into practice—in 2021, thirty-one cities, including Seattle, New Orleans, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona, signed a declaration pledging to invest in green spaces in order to improve outcomes including air quality.
This study calls for future research on these topics, such as other tests to measure air pollution, the quantity of green spaces, and other important factors in possible childhood asthma. Despite its imperfections, it still brings an important issue to the table: is urbanization related to asthma?
This question is important to answer as the world grows more and more urban. Parents want to do what is best for their children, and if the way cities are built can aid people to become healthier, then measures should be taken in order to promote public health. Less car-oriented, more people-oriented walkable cities with green spaces could be, with more studies, shown to be the way of the future. Environmental justice, the idea that every single person has the right to live in a healthy environment and to be protected from environmental health hazards, is an important concept that aligns with what this article has outlined. Environmental justice is already being put into practice—in 2021, thirty-one cities, including Seattle, New Orleans, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona, signed a declaration pledging to invest in green spaces in order to improve outcomes including air quality.
Featured Image Source: "Hosta Garden edge at Simpson Garden Park" by Mbrickn is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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