Study shows that kids who live near parks or woods have healthier lungs

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Children who live near parks or woods have healthier lungs, according to a new study.

Researchers found that green spaces boost respiration - reducing the risk of asthma and other breathing problems.

The findings are based on under 11s. Lungs develop in five stages - with the first four occurring in the womb and the last in late childhood or early teens.

Lead author Dr. Diogo Queiroz Almeida, of the University of Porto, Portugal, said: "Our research suggests the greener, the better.

"These improvements are modest at around two per cent. However, if we look at the whole population, making our neighbourhoods greener could have a considerable impact.

"We looked at factors like physical activity and air pollution, but the link between lung function and moving closer to green space remained, even after we took these into account.

"It could also be that getting closer to nature reduces stress, which can improve physical health, or it might have a positive effect on children’s microbiome - the community of different bacteria that live in our bodies.

"We found living in greener neighbourhoods as children grow up is more important for their breathing than living in a green area when they were born. This may be because babies spend much less time outdoors than children."

The study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, tracked 3,278 children living in and around Porto.

Lung function was measured through forced vital capacity (FVC) - the maximum amount of air a person can blow out after taking in the deepest possible breath.

It indicates how well they are working - and is used to diagnose lung conditions such as asthma.

Participants tended to have better results if exposure to vegetation increased between birth and their tenth birthday - either due to house moves or environmental changes.

Dr. Queiroz Almeida and colleagues said it supports the idea of families upping sticks to greener areas - but also highlights the need for more parks in towns and cities.

Plants cool the 'urban heat island' effect. They also combat pollution by reducing the formation of ozone.

Shade provided by trees cuts energy demand too - indirectly contributing to improved air quality.

Dr. Queiroz Almeida said: "This research strengthens the evidence supporting the benefits of green spaces on respiratory health.

"Moving to greener areas may be a possible strategy to improve children's lung function.

"However, house prices often dictate where families live, many cannot afford to live in greener neighborhoods.

"To reduce health inequalities, we need to make our cities greener, especially in areas where there is little or no green space.

"In particular, we need to involve children and their carers to make sure our parks and gardens suit their needs."

The Portuguese team used satellite data and maps to assess the amount of vegetation in the home surroundings.

Geographical information systems determined the distance to the nearest park, public garden or other green space at birth and when they were four, seven and ten years old.

Dr. Queiroz Almeida added: "More people are living in urban areas lacking natural spaces, which can have deleterious health effects.

"Children who increased their life course exposure to greenness had better lung function. So, city greening may lead to improvements in respiratory health."

But no connection was identified between lung health and living close to rivers or the sea.

Fewer than one per cent of the children lived within 800 metres of 'blue space' - so a link cannot be ruled out for shorter distances.

Asthma is the most common long-term medical condition - affecting around one in eleven children and young people living with asthma.

If left untreated, it can be fatal.

An estimated four million children around the world develop asthma each year because of road traffic pollution.

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, largely from vehicle exhausts, is thought to be behind 240,000 new cases in the US annually.

Professor Marielle Pijnenburg, head of the paediatric assembly of the European Respiratory Society who was not involved in the research, said: "We know early childhood is a crucial time for lungs to grow and develop.

"A child's environment and the air they breathe can have an impact on their lung health for the rest of their life.

"This study suggests making sure our children grow up close to parks, gardens and green spaces could help improve their lung health, although as the authors said the mechanisms for this are unknown and may be complex.

"This finding contributes to a growing number of studies that show health benefits of making our neighbourhoods greener and healthier."

Previous research has suggested living by forests, parks and gardens improves children's behavior, increases attention and working memory and boosts exam results.

Dr. Queiroz Almeida and colleagues plan to continue studying the role of green and blue spaces in other areas of children's health.

They are also using focus groups to understand how and why green spaces are used by younger people.