Green space and child health

Children are uniquely vulnerable to harmful environments, due to their physiology, developmental windows of susceptibility and age-related behaviours. The urban environment is undergoing rapid transformation, as populations grow, children spend more time indoors, and the effects of climate change are starting to be experienced worldwide.

Urban green space, the area of an urban area occupied with photosynthetic vegetation such as grass, shrubs and trees, is perhaps the best example of an environmental factor that may act as a public health good.

Research has identified health benefits associated with green space, such as improvement in mental wellbeing, reduction in cortisol, an increase in physical activity, improved neighbourhood cohesion, and exposure to beneficial microbiota. Green space may play a role in ameliorating hazardous environmental exposures, such as air pollution and temperature extremes.

The aim of this study is match environmental data to a cohort of Australian children and examine the association between maternal and child exposure to environmental factors with the health of the child. Birth outcomes, lung health and neurodevelopmental outcomes will be explored.

To participate in this research, please contact Dr Dwan Vilcins at d.vilcins@uq.edu.au