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Mapping Environmental Inequalities Relevant for Health for Informing Urban Planning Interventions—A Case Study in the City of Dortmund, Germany

Author

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  • Johannes Flacke

    (Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, P.O. Box 6, Enschede 7500 AE, The Netherlands)

  • Steffen Andreas Schüle

    (Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, Bremen 28359, Germany)

  • Heike Köckler

    (Department of Community Health, Hochschule für Gesundheit, Gesundheitscampus 6–8, Bochum 44801, Germany)

  • Gabriele Bolte

    (Department of Social Epidemiology, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, Bremen 28359, Germany)

Abstract

Spatial differences in urban environmental conditions contribute to health inequalities within cities. The purpose of the paper is to map environmental inequalities relevant for health in the City of Dortmund, Germany, in order to identify needs for planning interventions. We develop suitable indicators for mapping socioeconomically-driven environmental inequalities at the neighborhood level based on published scientific evidence and inputs from local stakeholders. Relationships between socioeconomic and environmental indicators at the level of 170 neighborhoods were analyzed continuously with Spearman rank correlation coefficients and categorically applying chi-squared tests. Reclassified socioeconomic and environmental indicators were then mapped at the neighborhood level in order to determine multiple environmental burdens and hotspots of environmental inequalities related to health. Results show that the majority of environmental indicators correlate significantly, leading to multiple environmental burdens in specific neighborhoods. Some of these neighborhoods also have significantly larger proportions of inhabitants of a lower socioeconomic position indicating hotspots of environmental inequalities. Suitable planning interventions mainly comprise transport planning and green space management. In the conclusions, we discuss how the analysis can be used to improve state of the art planning instruments, such as clean air action planning or noise reduction planning towards the consideration of the vulnerability of the population.

Suggested Citation

  • Johannes Flacke & Steffen Andreas Schüle & Heike Köckler & Gabriele Bolte, 2016. "Mapping Environmental Inequalities Relevant for Health for Informing Urban Planning Interventions—A Case Study in the City of Dortmund, Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:7:p:711-:d:73881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ken Wei Tan & Joel R. Koo & Jue Tao Lim & Alex R. Cook & Borame L. Dickens, 2021. "Importance of Geospatial Heterogeneity in Chronic Disease Burden for Policy Planning in an Urban Setting Using a Case Study of Singapore," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Stefanie Dreger & Steffen Andreas Schüle & Lisa Karla Hilz & Gabriele Bolte, 2019. "Social Inequalities in Environmental Noise Exposure: A Review of Evidence in the WHO European Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Carolina Prado & Colectivo Salud y Justicia Ambiental & Red de Ciudadanos para el Mejoramiento de las Comunidades, 2021. "Border Environmental Justice PPGIS: Community-Based Mapping and Public Participation in Eastern Tijuana, México," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Natalie Riedel & Heike Köckler & Joachim Scheiner & Irene Van Kamp & Raimund Erbel & Adrian Loerbroks & Thomas Claßen & Gabriele Bolte, 2018. "Home as a Place of Noise Control for the Elderly? A Cross-Sectional Study on Potential Mediating Effects and Associations between Road Traffic Noise Exposure, Access to a Quiet Side, Dwelling-Related ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, May.
    5. Steffen Andreas Schüle & Lisa Karla Hilz & Stefanie Dreger & Gabriele Bolte, 2019. "Social Inequalities in Environmental Resources of Green and Blue Spaces: A Review of Evidence in the WHO European Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-15, April.
    6. Rehana Shrestha & Johannes Flacke & Javier Martinez & Martin Van Maarseveen, 2018. "Interactive Cumulative Burden Assessment: Engaging Stakeholders in an Adaptive, Participatory and Transdisciplinary Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, February.
    7. Chunzhu Wei & Pablo Cabrera-Barona & Thomas Blaschke, 2016. "Local Geographic Variation of Public Services Inequality: Does the Neighborhood Scale Matter?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, October.
    8. Nelson Gouveia, 2016. "Addressing Environmental Health Inequalities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-3, August.

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