Project R-6222

Impact of green/blue spaces on specific morbidity and cause-specific mortality in Belgium (Research)

Living in green areas is associated with better self-perceived health and lower cardio-vascular risk. This may be due to low air pollution and noise levels, high opportunities for physical activity, facilitation of social contacts, and/or promotion of recovery from fatigue and stress. Yet, socioeconomic (SE) factors also explain inequalities in both health and access to green spaces. In addition, there is some indication of associations between blue (water) spaces and health, but these have barely been investigated. The GRESP-HEALTH project proposes to evaluate the associations between living in/close to a green or a blue area on morbidity and mortality in Belgium, at different stages of life (infancy, childhood and adulthood). We will assess all-cause mortality, but we will also focus on selected relevant causes of disease and death, as well as on perceived health, intending to follow a holistic approach of health. We will take into account environmental pollutants and SE factors at different levels of spatial aggregation.

15 December 2014 - 15 September 2019