New research shows that air pollution, dense urban development, and a lack of green spaces significantly increase the risk of asthma in children and adults.
Published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, the study highlights how environmental factors influence asthma prevalence.
Researchers analyzed data from approximately 350,000 individuals of various ages across seven European countries. Based on participants’ residential locations, they examined the connection between asthma incidence and environmental factors such as air quality, ambient temperature, and urban density.
About 7,500 participants developed asthma during the study period. The researchers estimated that 11.6% of these cases were linked to environmental factors.
The study identified air pollution, insufficient green spaces, and high-density urban development as the primary environmental contributors to asthma onset.
The researchers emphasized that better environmental conditions could have prevented asthma in one out of every ten diagnosed patients.
These findings have important implications for urban planning. They provide insights into residents’ health risks and help identify high-risk areas within existing urban environments.
Most Commented