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Air Pollution, Noise, Blue Space, and Green Space and Premature Mortality in Barcelona: A Mega Cohort

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Listed:
  • Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Mireia Gascon

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • David Martinez

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Anna Ponjoan

    (ISV Research Group, Research Unit in Primary Care, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 17190 Catalonia, Spain
    Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGi), 17190 Catalonia, Spain)

  • Jordi Blanch

    (ISV Research Group, Research Unit in Primary Care, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 17190 Catalonia, Spain)

  • Maria del Mar Garcia-Gil

    (ISV Research Group, Research Unit in Primary Care, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 17190 Catalonia, Spain)

  • Rafel Ramos

    (ISV Research Group, Research Unit in Primary Care, Institut Universitari d’Investigació en Atenció Primària Jordi Gol (IDIAP Jordi Gol), 17190 Catalonia, Spain
    Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGi), 17190 Catalonia, Spain
    Primary Care, Primary Care Services, Girona, Catalan Institute of Health (ICS), Catalonia, Spain
    Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Girona, 17004 Girona, Spain)

  • Maria Foraster

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Natalie Mueller

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ana Espinosa

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Marta Cirach

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Haneen Khreis

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Payam Dadvand

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Xavier Basagaña

    (ISGlobal, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
    Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002 Barcelona, Spain
    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Introduction : Cities often experience high air pollution and noise levels and lack of natural outdoor environments, which may be detrimental to health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of air pollution, noise, and blue and green space on premature all-cause mortality in Barcelona using a mega cohort approach. Methods : Both men and women of 18 years and above registered on 1 January 2010 by the Sistema d’Informació pel Desenvolupament de la Investigació en Atenció Primària (SIDIAP) and living in the city of Barcelona were included in the cohort and followed up until 31 December 2014 or until death ( n = 2,939,067 person years). The exposure assessment was conducted at the census tract level ( n = 1061). We assigned exposure to long term ambient levels of nitrogen dioxides (NO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NO x ), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ), between 2.5 µm and 10 µm (PM 2.5–10 , i.e., coarse particulate matter), less than 10 µm (PM 10 ) and PM 2.5 light absorption (hereafter referred to as PM 2.5 absorbance) based on land use regressions models. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was assigned based on remote sensing data, percentage green space and blue space were calculated based on land use maps and modelled road traffic noise was available through the strategic noise map for Barcelona. Results : In this large prospective study ( n = 792,649) in an urban area, we found a decreased risk of all-cause mortality with an increase in green space measured as NDVI (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.92, 95% CI 0.89–0.97 per 0.1) and increased risks of mortality with an increase in exposure to blue space (HR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.06 per 1%), NO 2 (HR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02 per 5 ug/m 3 ) but no risk with noise (HR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.98–1.02 per 5 dB(A)). The increased risks appeared to be more pronounced in the more deprived areas. Results for NDVI, and to a lesser extent NO 2 , remained most consistent after mutual adjustment for other exposures. The NDVI estimate was a little attenuated when NO 2 was included in the model. The study had some limitations including e.g., the assessment of air pollution, noise, green space and socioeconomic status (SES) on census tract level rather than individual level and residual confounding. Conclusion : This large study provides new insights on the relationship between green and blue space, noise and air pollution and premature all-cause mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen & Mireia Gascon & David Martinez & Anna Ponjoan & Jordi Blanch & Maria del Mar Garcia-Gil & Rafel Ramos & Maria Foraster & Natalie Mueller & Ana Espinosa & Marta Cirach & Haneen, 2018. "Air Pollution, Noise, Blue Space, and Green Space and Premature Mortality in Barcelona: A Mega Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:11:p:2405-:d:179184
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alberto Arnedo-Pena & Joan Puig-Barberà & Juan Bellido-Blasco & MªAngeles Romeu-Garcia & Mª Rosario Pac-Sa & Francisco Guillen-Grima, 2020. "Production of Vegetables and Artichokes Is Associated with Lower Cardiovascular Mortality: An Ecological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Jordi Honey-Rosés & Oscar Zapata, 2023. "Green Spaces with Fewer People Improve Self-Reported Affective Experience and Mood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-10, January.
    3. Alessandro Rigolon & Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Olivia McAnirlin & Hyunseo (Violet) Yoon, 2021. "Green Space and Health Equity: A Systematic Review on the Potential of Green Space to Reduce Health Disparities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    4. Megan J. Grace & Jen Dickie & Phil Bartie & Caroline Brown & David M. Oliver, 2023. "Understanding Health Outcomes from Exposure to Blue Space Resources: Towards a Mixed Methods Framework for Analysis," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, November.

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