The neighbourhood natural environment is associated with asthma in children: A birth cohort study

Abstract

The human microbiome plays an important role in the development of allergic diseases and asthma. 1 According to the "biodiversity hypothesis," a lower exposure to the natural environment and biodiversity may adversely affect the human microbiome and its immunomodulatory capacity. 2 This hypothesis has been demonstrated in studies either showing lower microbiota diversity in the airways of children with asthma or finding a lower prevalence of atopic disease in children living the first years of their lives surrounded by a diverse microbiological environment. 2-6 The human microbiome (particularly skin and nasal microbiota) may be influenced through the exposure to different microbiota found in fauna and flora species. 7,8 Therefore, it is possible

Association between Asthma Control and Exposure to Greenness and Other Outdoor and Indoor Environmental Factors: A Longitudinal Study on a Cohort of Asthmatic Children

“…Some cross-sectional studies have reported positive associations between greenness exposure and asthma morbidity [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] both in children and in adults [ 10 ], whilst other studies have not confirmed these findings [ 11 , 12 ]. Inconsistent results were also reported from other studies with longitudinal design showing both harmful [ 13 , 14 ] and protective [ 15 ] effects of greenness on asthma. Indeed, only one cross-sectional study assessed the potential effect of urban greenness on asthma control reporting no significant effects [ 16 ].…”

Advances and highlights in asthma in 2021

“…A longitudinal study conducted on 1050 children from a population‐based birth cohort recruited in Portugal showed that living in close proximity to a greener environment at birth had a protective effect on the development of allergic diseases and asthma at the age of 7. Conversely, living in neighbourhoods with a high number of fauna species appears to be associated with a higher risk of allergy, asthma and wheezing 120 …”

Exposure to nature and mental health outcomes during COVID-19 lockdown. A comparison between Portugal and Spain

“…Research has shown that nature can provide many benefits for public health. Exposure to nature, particularly to public green and blue spaces, is associated with numerous health benefits including better cardiovascular and respiratory health ( Lane Kevin, 2017 , Cavaleiro Rufo, 2020 ), improved immune ( Cavaleiro Rufo, 2020 ) and cognitive function ( de Keijzer, 2018 ), and lower risk of disease ( Twohig-Bennett and Jones, 2018 ) and mortality ( Gascon, 2016 ). Although most of the research has focused on the physical health benefits of nature exposure, there is growing evidence showing that both physical and visual contact with nature is associated with better mental health outcomes ( Wendelboe-Nelson, 2019 ) such as lower levels of stress, anxiety ( Triguero-Mas, 2017 ) and rumination ( Bratman, 2015 ), reduced prevalence of somatization symptoms ( Triguero-Mas, 2017 ), improved biomarkers of stress ( Ribeiro, 2019 ), and overall better psychological well-being ( Pearson and Craig, 2014 ).…”