For some people living in an urban city like London or even slightly smaller cities is the absolute dream. They love bustling cities and the number of things you can do in a city. However, a recent European study has found that the way cities are built could significantly raise the risk of Asthma. Are you curious to discover more about it? Then make sure to keep on reading!
Air Pollution and Urban Design Go Hand-in-Hand
In the study, researchers looked at data from 349,000 people across 14 different study groups. The results they found were striking. Apparently, living in a city full of concrete with a shortage of trees could increase the risk of Asthma by 35% in kids and by 27% in adults.
How? The environment is able to trap pollutants and limit the amount of airflow in a city. This is the perfect storm for breathing issues like asthma. It is not just smog that’s to blame; noise pollution and heat can also play a role. Just building more giant parks won’t help; these need to be designed in a way to produce as much oxygen as possible!
Cities Must Prioritise Healthier Design
While most cities follow traditional building methods and lay-out choices, it has become more important to think about public health. The researchers suggest that 12% of these asthma cases could be prevented with smarter and more efficient planning. The implementation of more green spaces, better air quality, and heat-resilient infrastructure could help.
The key takeaway is very clear: Concrete jungles might need more jungle, and could best ditch some of the concrete plans! So, if you’re planning on moving, make sure to consider what the best environment is for you, and if you choose a city, make sure you live near parks!
