Τίτλος:
Spatial variability in air pollution exposure in relation to socioeconomic indicators in nine European metropolitan areas: A study on environmental inequality
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
A limited number of studies have addressed environmental inequality, using various study designs and methodologies and often reaching contradictory results. Following a standardized multi-city data collection process within the European project EURO-HEALTHY, we conducted an ecological study to investigate the spatial association between nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as a surrogate for traffic related air pollution, and ten socioeconomic indicators at local administrative unit level in nine European Metropolitan Areas. We applied mixed models for the associations under investigation with random intercepts per Metropolitan Area, also accounting for the spatial correlation. The stronger associations were observed between NO2 levels and population density, population born outside the European Union (EU28), total crimes per 100,000 inhabitants and unemployment rate that displayed a highly statistically significant trend of increasing concentrations with increasing levels of the indicators. Specifically, the highest vs the lowest quartile of each indicator above was associated with 48.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 42.9%, 54.8%), 30.9% (95%CI: 22.1%, 40.2%), 19.8% (95%CI: 13.4%, 26.6%) and 15.8% (95%CI: 9.9%, 22.1%) increase in NO2 respectively. The association with population density most probably reflects the higher volume in vehicular traffic, which is the main source of NO2 in urban areas. Higher pollution levels in areas with higher percentages of people born outside EU28, crime or unemployment rates indicate that worse air quality is typically encountered in deprived European urban areas. Policy makers should consider spatial environmental inequalities to better inform actions aiming to lower urban air pollution levels that will subsequently lead to improved quality of life, public health and health equity across the population. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd
Συγγραφείς:
Samoli, E.
Stergiopoulou, A.
Santana, P.
Rodopoulou, S.
Mitsakou, C.
Dimitroulopoulou, C.
Bauwelinck, M.
de Hoogh, K.
Costa, C.
Marí-Dell'Olmo, M.
Corman, D.
Vardoulakis, S.
Katsouyanni, K.
EURO-HEALTHY Consortium
Περιοδικό:
Environmental Pollution
Εκδότης:
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
Air pollution; Air quality; Crime; Employment; Population distribution; Population dynamics; Population statistics, Air pollution exposures; Data collection process; EURO-HEALTHY; Nitrogen dioxides; Population densities; Socio-economic indicators; Spatial correlations; Traffic-related air pollution, Nitrogen oxides, nitrogen dioxide; nitrogen dioxide, air quality; atmospheric pollution; correlation; environmental quality; metropolitan area; nitrogen dioxide; pollution exposure; socioeconomic indicator; spatial variation, air pollution; air quality; Article; correlation analysis; crime; environmental exposure; Europe; European Union; human; population density; population migration; population size; socioeconomics; spatial analysis; traffic; unemployment; urban area; air pollutant; air pollution; analysis; city; environmental exposure; Europe; female; male; poverty; public health; quality of life; statistics and numerical data; time factor, Europe, Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Cities; Environmental Exposure; Europe; Female; Humans; Male; Nitrogen Dioxide; Poverty; Public Health; Quality of Life; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors
DOI:
10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.050
