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Is Neighborhood Green Space Protective against Associations between Child Asthma, Neighborhood Traffic Volume and Perceived Lack of Area Safety? Multilevel Analysis of 4447 Australian Children

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  • Xiaoqi Feng

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Early Start, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Thomas Astell-Burt

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Early Start, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
    Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

Abstract

Heavy traffic is a source of air pollution and a safety concern with important public health implications. We investigated whether green space lowers child asthma risk by buffering the effects of heavy traffic and a lack of neighborhood safety. Multilevel models were used to analyze affirmative asthma cases in nationally representative cross-sectional data from 4447 children aged 6–7 years old in Australia. Case-finding was based upon a triangulation of affirmative responses to three questions on doctor-diagnosed asthma, asthma-related medications and illness with wheezing lasting for at least 1 week within the 12 months prior. Among children considered to be exposed to high traffic volumes and areas with 0 to 20% green space quantity, the odds ratio of affirmative asthma was 1.87 (95% CI 1.37 to 2.55). However, the association between heavy traffic and asthma was significantly lower for participants living in areas with over 40% green space coverage (odds ratio for interaction 0.32, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.84). No association between affirmative asthma and green space coverage was observed for participants not exposed to heavy traffic, nor for the area safety variable. Protecting existing and investing in new green space may help to promote child respiratory health through the buffering of traffic-related air pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoqi Feng & Thomas Astell-Burt, 2017. "Is Neighborhood Green Space Protective against Associations between Child Asthma, Neighborhood Traffic Volume and Perceived Lack of Area Safety? Multilevel Analysis of 4447 Australian Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:5:p:543-:d:99136
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xiaoqi Feng & Thomas Astell-Burt, 2017. "The Relationship between Neighbourhood Green Space and Child Mental Wellbeing Depends upon Whom You Ask: Multilevel Evidence from 3083 Children Aged 12–13 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-11, February.
    2. Mireia Gascon & Margarita Triguero-Mas & David Martínez & Payam Dadvand & Joan Forns & Antoni Plasència & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen, 2015. "Mental Health Benefits of Long-Term Exposure to Residential Green and Blue Spaces: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-26, April.
    3. S V Subramanian & Malinda H Kennedy, 2009. "Perception of Neighborhood Safety and Reported Childhood Lifetime Asthma in the United States (U.S.): A Study Based on a National Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(6), pages 1-7, June.
    4. Wright, R.J. & Mitchell, H. & Visness, C.M. & Cohen, S. & Stout, J. & Evans, R. & Gold, D.R., 2004. "Community Violence and Asthma Morbidity: The Inner-City Asthma Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(4), pages 625-632.
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    1. Dohyung Kim & Yongjin Ahn, 2021. "The Contribution of Neighborhood Tree and Greenspace to Asthma Emergency Room Visits: An Application of Advanced Spatial Data in Los Angeles County," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Sowmya Malamardi & Katrina A. Lambert & Attahalli Shivanarayanaprasad Praveena & Mahesh Padukudru Anand & Bircan Erbas, 2022. "Time Trends of Greenspaces, Air Pollution, and Asthma Prevalence among Children and Adolescents in India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Sarah Davies & Paul Konings & Aparna Lal, 2020. "Spatial Analysis of the Neighborhood Risk Factors for Respiratory Health in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Implications for Emergency Planning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Giovanna Cilluffo & Giuliana Ferrante & Salvatore Fasola & Velia Malizia & Laura Montalbano & Andrea Ranzi & Chiara Badaloni & Giovanni Viegi & Stefania La Grutta, 2022. "Association between Asthma Control and Exposure to Greenness and Other Outdoor and Indoor Environmental Factors: A Longitudinal Study on a Cohort of Asthmatic Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Xiaoqi Feng & Claudia Flexeder & Iana Markevych & Marie Standl & Joachim Heinrich & Tamara Schikowski & Sibylle Koletzko & Gunda Herberth & Carl-Peter Bauer & Andrea von Berg & Dietrich Berdel & Thoma, 2020. "Impact of Residential Green Space on Sleep Quality and Sufficiency in Children and Adolescents Residing in Australia and Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, July.

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