Health Impact Assessment of Riverside Regeneration in Active Travel. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vert, Cristina; Rojas-Rueda, David; Gascon, Mireia; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark
• Is Part Of: Journal of transport & health. Volume 5(2017)
• Page Start: S95
• Page End: S96
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Transportation -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Noise, Transportation -- Periodicals; Air Pollutants -- Periodicals; 388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2017.05.253
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-1405

Abstract

Abstract : Background: More than half of the population is living in urban areas worldwide, and the global urban population is expected to grow 1, 8% approximately every year between 2015 and 2020. Urban regeneration is a growing-up tendency that aims to improve the economics, physical, social and environmental condition of an area that has changed or offers opportunities for improvement. Since several studies have suggested association between access to natural outdoor environments (including green and blue spaces) and increase of physical activity, regeneration of these environments located in urban settings could increase physical activity levels among the population, which has been associated with better general and mental health. However, health impact of this urban regeneration has not been estimated yet. Thus, the goal of this study is to quantify the health impact of the urban riverside regeneration performed in 2000, in Sant Adrià de Besòs (Barcelona). Moreover, the study aims also to do a benefit cost analysis of the regeneration. Methods: Physical activity levels, which were considered to be null before the intervention, were estimated using metabolic equivalent (MET hour/week), employing a survey from 2015 (N=973) that asked the users of the fluvial park about the reason (main activity) why they were in the park, the duration and the frequency of the visits, among others. Users were intercepted by the interviewers along the park from 8am to 8 pm. The prevented number of deaths was estimated using a dose-response function of all cause mortality and physical activity from a meta-analysis. Economic assessment was performed based on the value of statistical life in Spain (3, 2 million €), and the intervention cost (37 millions of €) was collected from the public reports. Results: Out of the total number of walking users (1.070.000) of the fluvial park of Besòs River counted in 2015; 1, 1% used the fluvial park to walk to work. These subjects walk an average of 137 minutes per person per day; this represents a physical activity expenditure of 38, 9 METs hours/week. This increase on walking to work using the fluvial park was estimated to prevent 12 deaths per year, what leads to an average annual benefit of 21.180.000€. Therefore, the estimated benefit to cost ratio was 5, 7:1. Conclusions: Fluvial park regeneration of Besòs River was associated with health and economic benefits. Fluvial park regeneration could help increase active transportation in the population and could be a useful intervention to promote public health.