A novel land use approach for assessment of human health: The relationship between urban structure types and cardiorespiratory disease risk. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Réquia Júnior, Weeberb João; Roig, Henrique Llacer; Koutrakis, Petros
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 85(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 334
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Land use -- Urban structure types -- Human health -- Cardiorespiratory diseases -- Risk; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.09.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Extensive evidence shows that in addition to lifestyle factors, environmental aspects are an important risk factor for human health. Numerous approaches have been used to estimate the relationship between environment and health. For example, the urban characteristics, especially the types of land use, are considered a potential proxy indicator to evaluate risk of disease. Although several studies have used land use variables to assess human health, none of them has used the concept of Urban Morphology by Urban Structure Types (USTs) as indicators of land use. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between USTs and cardiorespiratory disease risks in the Federal District, Brazil. Toward this end, we used a quantile regression model to estimate risk. We used 21 types of UST. Income and population density were used as covariates in our sensitivity analysis. Our analysis showed an association between cardiorespiratory diseases risk and 10 UST variables (1 related to rural area, 6 related to residential area, 1 recreational area, 1 public area and 1 commercial area). Our findings suggest that the conventional land use method may be missing important information about the effect of land use on human health. The use of USTs can be an approach to complement the conventional method. This should be of interest to policy makers in order to enhance public health policies and to create future strategies in terms of urban planning, land use and environmental health. Highlights: There is association between urban structure types and risk of cardiorespiratory diseases. Understanding the impacts of urban planning and land use is paramount to the efforts to develop sound public health strategies. The conventional land use method may be missing important information about the effect of land use on human health.