Modifying temperature-related cardiovascular mortality through green-blue space exposure

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Epidemiology
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Green-blue spaces (GBS) are crucial for mitigating thermal discomfort.
• Current GBS management lacks epidemiological evidence for targeted planning and design.
• Understanding GBS's role in temperature-related mortality is vital for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how different types of GBS modify the association between non-optimal temperatures and cardiovascular mortality.
• To provide epidemiological evidence for GBS planning and climate adaptation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fine-scale population density and GBS data to develop a novel GBS exposure index.
• Employed a case time series analysis to assess temperature-cardiovascular mortality links.
• Analyzed effect modification by type-specific GBS across 1085 subdistricts in south-eastern China.

Main Results:

• Both green and blue spaces significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality risk from high temperatures.
• Specific blue space types, like rivers, protect against cold-related cardiovascular mortality.
• Forests, parks, nature reserves, street greenery, and lakes mitigate heat risks; rivers and coasts mitigate cold risks. Blue spaces generally offer greater benefits than green spaces.

Conclusions:

• Type-specific GBS significantly influences health risks from temperature extremes.
• Blue spaces provide more substantial protection against temperature-related cardiovascular mortality than green spaces.
• Findings support integrating GBS into climate adaptation strategies for enhanced public health benefits.