The latest study, in which as many as 35,000 children from eight countries participated, revealed a strong link between exposure to green areas in early childhood and better lung function.
Experts from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health processed data on exposure to green areas from two different time points – pregnancy and childhood (from three to 12 years). In order to determine as precisely as possible the extent to which the study participants were exposed to greenery, the scientists used satellite images to assess the vegetation in a range of 300 meters around the place where the children lived.
Lung function was measured by spirometric tests. To estimate lung volume, researchers measured the maximum amount of air a person can exhale without a time limit after taking a deep breath. And as an indicator of how open the airways are, the forced expiratory volume in one second was taken, that is, the volume of air that is exhaled in the first second of forced breathing after a deep breath.
The study was published in the journal Environment Internationalshowed that children who live in greener neighborhoods have better lung function, while those who lived further from green areas had smaller lung volumes.
Although the positive association of living in greener neighborhoods with lung function was observed regardless of socioeconomic status, the effect was stronger in children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.
“One possible explanation may be that families with higher education or income may have access to better quality, safer and better maintained green spaces,” said the study’s lead author, Amanda Fernandes.
The researchers also analyzed the mothers’ places of residence during pregnancy, but in this case the presence or absence of greenery was not associated with any of the indicators of respiratory health, suggesting that the effect of green spaces on improved lung function takes place in childhood.
“Our understanding of how green spaces affect lung function is still incomplete. We know that green spaces reduce air pollution, which in turn affects respiratory health. We also believe that green areas can expose children to beneficial microbes, which can contribute to the development of the immune system and indirectly affect lung function. Finally, green areas near the home probably encourage physical activity at an age when the lungs are still developing,” says Fernandes.
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Source: energetskiportal.rs
