Greenspace and human health: An umbrella review

Bo-Yi Yang; Tianyu Zhao; Li-Xin Hu; Matthew H.E.M. Browning; Joachim Heinrich; Shyamali C. Dharmage; Bin Jalaludin; Luke D. Knibbs; Xiao-Xuan Liu; Ya-Na Luo; Peter James; Shanshan Li; Wen-Zhong Huang; Gongbo Chen; Xiao-Wen Zeng; Li-Wen Hu; Yunjiang Yu; Guang-Hui Dong

The Innovation (Nov 2021)

Greenspace and human health: An umbrella review

Bo-Yi Yang,
Tianyu Zhao,
Li-Xin Hu,
Matthew H.E.M. Browning,
Joachim Heinrich,
Shyamali C. Dharmage,
Bin Jalaludin,
Luke D. Knibbs,
Xiao-Xuan Liu,
Ya-Na Luo,
Peter James,
Shanshan Li,
Wen-Zhong Huang,
Gongbo Chen,
Xiao-Wen Zeng,
Li-Wen Hu,
Yunjiang Yu,
Guang-Hui Dong

Affiliations

Bo-Yi Yang: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Tianyu Zhao: Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich, member, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80036, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
Li-Xin Hu: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Matthew H.E.M. Browning: Department of Park, Recreation, and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Joachim Heinrich: Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) Munich, member, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich 80036, Germany; Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
Shyamali C. Dharmage: Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
Bin Jalaludin: Centre for Air Quality and Health Research and Evaluation, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia; Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool NSW 2170, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
Luke D. Knibbs: School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Xiao-Xuan Liu: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Ya-Na Luo: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Peter James: Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Shanshan Li: Climate, Air Quality Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
Wen-Zhong Huang: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Gongbo Chen: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Xiao-Wen Zeng: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Li-Wen Hu: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
Yunjiang Yu: State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510080, China; Corresponding author
Guang-Hui Dong: Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2, no. 4
p. 100164

Abstract

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Multiple systematic reviews on greenspace and health outcomes exist, but the overall evidence base remains unclear. Therefore, we performed an umbrella review to collect and appraise all relevant systematic reviews of epidemiological studies on greenness exposure and health. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from inception to June 28, 2021, and screened references of relevant articles. Systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses of epidemiological studies that examined the associations of greenness with any health outcome were included. Two independent investigators performed study selection and data extraction. We also evaluated the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews using the “Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2” checklist. A total of 40 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included, of which most were cross-sectional studies conducted in high-income countries. Greenspace exposure was estimated with various objective and subjective parameters. Beneficial associations of greenspace with all-cause and stroke-specific mortality, CVD morbidity, cardiometabolic factors, mental health, low birth weight, physical activity, sleep quality, and urban crime were observed. No consistent associations between greenspace and other health outcomes (e.g., cancers) were observed. Most of the included systematic reviews and meta-analyses had one or more limitations in methodology. Our findings provide supportive evidence regarding the beneficial effects of greenspace exposure on some aspects of human health. However, the credibility of such evidence was compromised by methodological limitations. Better performed systematic reviews and meta-analyses as well as longitudinal designed primary studies are needed to validate this conclusion. Public summary: • The evidence concerning greenspace and health outcomes remains unclear • We performed an umbrella review of 40 systematic reviews on greenspace and health • Greenspace exposure was estimated with various objective and subjective parameters • Greenspace was beneficially associated with several aspects of human health

Published in The Innovation

ISSN: 2666-6758 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/the-innovation

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