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Item confirms Peer-reviewed Added

Residential greenspace linked to lower respiratory deaths from air pollution

A review of 14 cohort studies, mostly European, found residential greenspace associated with lower air-pollution-related respiratory mortality, through cleaner local air rather than reduced personal susceptibility to pollution.

The review searched Medline, Embase and Scopus to May 2026 and included 14 cohort studies, mostly European, each judged sound on a standard quality checklist. Greenspace was generally associated with lower respiratory mortality from air pollution; other outcomes covered lung function and non-infectious respiratory disease. The association was more consistent where greenspace appeared to improve local air quality than where it reduced susceptibility to pollution.

Why it is interesting: It separates two explanations: cleaner local air rather than reduced personal susceptibility to pollution.

Source
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 15 September 2026
Paper
Greenspace, air pollution and respiratory health outcomes: a systematic review of cohort studies
Authors
Vance MS, Lane T, Ye T
DOI
10.1177/14034948261481328
Type
Peer-reviewed article
Design
Systematic review of 14 cohort studies (searches to May 2026), all rated 'good' on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, mostly European cohorts
Verdict
Confirms prior evidence
Driver
A changing climate
Free full text
Free to read at the publisher

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