Greenness and allergies: Evidence of differential associations in two areas in Germany.
J. Epidemiol. Community Health 68, 787-790 (2014)
BACKGROUND: Positive greenness effects on health are increasingly reported, although studies on allergic outcomes remain limited and conflicting. We examined whether residential greenness is associated with childhood doctor diagnosed allergic rhinitis, eyes and nose symptoms and aeroallergen sensitisation using two combined birth cohorts (GINIplus and LISAplus) followed from birth to 10 years in northern and southern Germany (Ntotal=5803). METHODS: Mean residential greenness in a 500 m buffer around the 10-year home addresses was defined using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, a green biomass density indicator. Longitudinal associations were assessed per study area (GINI/LISA South and GINI/LISA North) using generalised estimation equations adjusted for host and environmental covariates. RESULTS: Despite identical study designs and statistical modelling, greenness effects differed across the two study areas. Associations were elevated for allergic rhinitis and eyes and nose symptoms in the urban GINI/LISA South area. In contrast, risk estimates were significantly below one for these outcomes and aeroallergen sensitisation in rural GINI/LISA North. Area-specific associations were similar across buffer sizes and addresses (birth and 6 years) and remained heterogeneous after air pollution and population density stratification. CONCLUSIONS: Existing and future single-area studies on greenness and green spaces should be interpreted with caution.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Thesis type
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Keywords
Use Regression-models; Escape Project; Pm2.5 Absorbency; Human Health; Urban Areas; Pollen; No2; Pmcoarse; Asthma; Spaces
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Language
english
Publication Year
2014
Prepublished in Year
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2014
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0143-005X
e-ISSN
1470-2738
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Quellenangaben
Volume: 68,
Issue: 8,
Pages: 787-790
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BMJ Publishing Group
Publishing Place
London
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Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)
POF-Topic(s)
30503 - Chronic Diseases of the Lung and Allergies
Research field(s)
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP Element(s)
G-503900-001
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Erfassungsdatum
2014-05-29