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Human Health Impacts from Degraded Aesthetics of Blue and Green Spaces
Citation:
Hoffman, J., E. Slawsky, K. Cowan, AND K. Rappazzo. Human Health Impacts from Degraded Aesthetics of Blue and Green Spaces. St. Louis River Summit, Superior, WI, March 08 - 10, 2023. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.24602139
Impact/Purpose:
The remediation to restoration to revitalization (R2R2R) framework is designed to help maximize both social and ecological outcomes of large-scale remediation and restoration efforts. A common impairment at Great Lakes Areas of Concern is a degradation of aesthetics. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the state of the science with respect to human health impacts from degraded aesthetics of publicly accessible blue and green spaces. Broadly, we found that while study design can be improved, there was broad support for an associated impact on physical and mental health from degraded aesthetics.
Description:
In environmental programs such as the Area of Concern program, as well as with blue/green space development, improving aesthetics is commonly a goal. There is broad interest in understanding the relationship between ecologically sound environments that people find aesthetically pleasing and human health. However, to date, few studies have assessed this relationship, and this is the first review of this line of research. Therefore, we undertook a systematic literature review to determine the state of science and identify critical research needs. After full text screening, 19 studies were included in the review. Most of these studies examined some measure of greenspace/bluespace, primarily proximity. No studies to date adequately address questions surrounding degradation of aesthetics and how improving either environmental quality (remediation) or ecological health (restoration) efforts have impacted the health of those communities. That said, the studies identified for this review do support links between green space and various metrics of health, with additional evidence for blue space benefits on health. Aesthetics impacted health in multiple ways, including physical health, mental health, and general well-being. Further, there was evidence that poor aesthetics have a detrimental health effect and that more natural environments have a mitigating or protective health effect. We recommend that future studies will need to build on three key components: longitudinal (or equivalent) studies with multiple data points over time, data to describe quality of blue or green or other ecological space and measuring health outcomes to relate to specific pathologies.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Human Health Impacts from Degraded Aesthetics of Blue and Green Spaces
PRESENTATION.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 2437.409 KB, about PDF)