• Living near green areas reduces the risk

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Tue Mar 15 22:30:42 2022
    Living near green areas reduces the risk of suffering a stroke by 16
    percent, study finds

    Date:
    March 15, 2022
    Source:
    IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute)
    Summary:
    The risk of suffering an ischaemic stroke, the most common type of
    cerebrovascular event, is 16 percent less in people who have green
    spaces less than 300 meters from their homes. The study took into
    account information on exposure to three atmospheric pollutants
    linked to vehicle traffic in more than three and a half million
    people selected from among the 7.5 million residents of Catalonia,
    over the age of eighteen who had not suffered a stroke prior to
    the start of the study.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    The risk of suffering an ischaemic stroke, the most common type of cerebrovascular event, is 16% less in people who have green spaces less
    than 300 metres from their homes. This has been revealed in a joint study
    by the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Hospital del Mar,
    the Catalan Health Quality and Assessment Agency (AQuAS) from the Catalan Government's Department of Health and the Barcelona Institute for Global
    Health (ISGlobal), a centre promoted by the "la Caixa" Foundation. It
    is the most important work in this field to date in Europe, analysing
    data on the entire population of Catalonia between 2016 and 2017. It
    has been published in the journal Environment International.


    ==========================================================================
    The study took into account information on exposure to three atmospheric pollutants linked to vehicle traffic in more than three and a half million people selected from among the 7.5 million residents of Catalonia, over
    the age of eighteen who had not suffered a stroke prior to the start of
    the study.

    Specifically, it analysed the impact of the levels of particulate matter
    under 2.5 microns (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and soot particles
    at the place of residence of each of the people studied. The number and
    density of green spaces within a 300-metre radius of their homes was also studied. The data was obtained via geographic referencing and by designing models of exposure to the two determinants, using population data obtained
    by reusing health information generated in Catalonia and anonymised by the
    Data Analytics Programme for Research and Innovation in Health (Programa d'Anali'tica de Dades per a la Recerca i la Innovacio' en Salut; PADRIS)
    and managed by the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Assessment
    (Age`ncia de Qualitat i Avaluacio' Sanita`ries de Catalunya; AQuAS).

    More pollution, a higher risk of stroke The results indicate a direct relationship between increased levels of NO2 in the atmosphere and the
    risk of ischaemic stroke. For every increase of 10 micrograms (myg)
    per cubic metre, this risk increases by 4%. The same happens when PM2.5
    levels increase by 5 myg/m3. In the case of soot particles, the risk
    increases by 5% for every 1 myg/m3 increase in the atmosphere. These
    figures are the same for the entire population, irrespective of other socio-economic factors, age or smoking habits.

    "It should be borne in mind that, unlike other air pollutants, which have various sources, NO2is mainly caused by road traffic. Therefore, if we
    really want to reduce the multiple risks that this pollutant poses to
    people's health, we need to implement bold measures to reduce car use",
    says Cathryn Tonne, a researcher at ISGlobal.

    "The study demonstrates the importance of environmental determinants in
    stroke risk. Given that it is predicted that the incidence, mortality
    and disability attributed to the disease will increase in the coming
    years, it is important to understand all the risk factors involved",
    explains Dr. Carla Avellaneda, a researcher in the Neurovascular Research
    Group at IMIM-Hospital del Mar and one of the main authors of the
    study. Previous studies by the same group had already provided evidence
    on the relationship between factors such as soot or noise levels and
    the risk of suffering a stroke and its severity. All these factors act
    as stroke triggers.

    In contrast, having an abundance of green spaces within the
    same radius from the home directly reduces the risk of suffering a
    stroke. Specifically, up to 16%. In this sense, "People who are surrounded
    by greater levels of greenery at their place of residence are protected
    against the onset of stroke", says Dr.

    Avellaneda. Exposure to green spaces is generally considered to have
    beneficial effects through a variety of mechanisms, such as stress
    reduction, increased physical activity and social contact, and even
    exposure to an enriched microbiome.

    Rethinking established air pollutant limits In view of this data, the researchers point out that it is necessary to reflect on the current
    levels of atmospheric pollution that are considered safe. At the moment,
    the thresholds set by the European Union are 40 myg/m3 for NO2, which the
    World Health Organisation reduces to 10 myg/m3, and 25 myg/m3 for PM2.5,
    which the WHO limits to 5 myg/m3. Currently, no levels have been set for
    soot particles. In fact, the levels recorded during the period analysed
    were lower, on average, than those set by the European authorities (17
    myg/m3 for PM2.5, 35 myg/m3for NO2 and 2.28 myg/m3 in the case of soot).

    "Despite compliance with the levels set by the European Union, we are
    faced with the paradox that there is still a health risk, such as the
    one we identified in this study, where there is a direct relationship
    between exposure to pollutants in our environment and the risk of
    suffering a stroke", explains Dr. Rosa Maria Vivanco, lead author of the
    study and researcher at AQuAS and IMIM-Hospital del Mar. "The danger is
    still present and many more measures need to be taken", considering the increase in the urban population and its ageing, she adds.

    In this sense, Dr. Jaume Roquer, head of the Neurology Service at
    Hospital del Mar and coordinator of the Neurovascular Research Group
    at IMIM-Hospital del Mar, points out that "This study demonstrates the
    real impact that environmental aspects have on the health of the Catalan population. In view of the effects of atmospheric pollution, the lack
    of green spaces, noise, and so forth, more efforts and populational
    strategies are needed to reduce its impact. Its harmful effects are
    permanently and globally damaging. We must strive to achieve more
    sustainable towns and cities where living does not mean an increased
    risk of disease."

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by IMIM_(Hospital_del_Mar_Medical_Research_Institute). Note: Content may
    be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. C. Avellaneda-Go'mez, R.M. Vivanco-Hidalgo, S. Olmos, U. Lazcano, A.

    Valentin, C. Mila`, A. Ambro's, J. Roquer, C. Tonne. Air pollution
    and surrounding greenness in relation to ischemic stroke: A
    population-based cohort study. Environment International, 2022;
    161: 107147 DOI: 10.1016/ j.envint.2022.107147 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220315113023.htm

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