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Connecting Green Space, Tree Cover, and Birth Outcomes in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Citation:
Bush, K., L. Jackson, A. Sears, P. Maxson, S. Edwards, AND M. Miranda. Connecting Green Space, Tree Cover, and Birth Outcomes in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. ACES - A Community on Ecosystem Services, Washington, DC, December 08 - 12, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
To demonstrate eco-health linkages in ACES eco-health session.
Description:
Green space provides many ecosystem services relevant to human health. We investigated associations between green space, tree cover, and near-road tree cover with birth weight (BWT), pre-term birth (PTB), and low birth weight (LBW). Births occurring around Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2009 (n = 27,293) were included. Land cover was classified based on 2010 USDA National Agriculture Imagery Program data at 1-meter resolution. Percent total green space, percent tree cover, and percent near-road tree cover were calculated around each address using 50m, 100m, 250m, and 500m buffers. Proximity to a major road was dichotomized as near (<250m) or far (≥250m) using NCDOT data. Linear regression was used to model BWT (g) and logistic regression was used to model LBW (<2500g) and PTB (< 37 weeks), both controlling for maternal race, age, education, tobacco use, parity, marital status, and infant sex. A stratified analysis compared effects across proximity to a major road, race, and education.Both percent green space and percent tree cover around the home were significantly associated with a moderate increase in BWT. A 10% increase in green space within 50m of the home was associated with a 6.37g (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.91, 9.82) increase in BWT; the association was consistent across buffer size. A 10% increase in near-road tree cover within 250m of the home was associated with a reduction in the odds of LBW, 0.997 (95% CI: 0.994, 0.999) and PTB, 0.997 (95% CI: 0.995, 1.000). While not significant across all buffers for the overall population, near-road tree cover is consistently protective for the population within 250m of a major road.Few studies have reported on the role of green space in reducing the risk of poor birth outcomes; none have designed a high-resolution near-road tree cover metric to explore near-road air pollution abatement as a potential mechanism. This work further highlights the potential buffering capacity and health promotional aspects of green space and tree cover.Disclaimer: This publication was developed under Assistance Agreement No. 8355530101 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Environmental Protection Agency.