Literature Review

This paper explores the potential benefits that green space can provide for environmental sustainability, health, and health equity. The authors combine a narrative literature review and expert-recommended literature to look at how changes in behavior can increase the use of urban green spaces. They discuss the importance of providing an accessible, attractive, well-maintained green space to groups who would reap the biggest benefit.

This project investigated the impact that contact with green and blue spaces had on indicators of behavioral development and symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in schoolchildren in Barcelona. The study sampled over two thousand schoolchildren (aged 7-10) from thirty-six schools in 2012 and obtained data from a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire from parents, as well as questionnaires from teachers. Results support a positive impact of green and blue space contact on the behavioral development of schoolchildren.

This article builds on existing research into the health and well-being benefits from exposure to green spaces to advocate for exposure to blue spaces—aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, and the coast. The authors delve into the similar benefits between green and blue spaces, as well as the key differences. Their model shows potential health and well-being benefits from blue spaces to be lower temperatures, increased physical activity, lower stress, and more. However, the authors also recognize that their review did not explore in depth the risks of interacting with blue spaces, such as flooding, drowning, and disease, which may be more pronounced in countries in which the study was not conducted.

This article documents evidence of inverse relations between income and other indices of socioeconomic status with environmental risk factors. These include exposure to hazardous wastes and other toxins, ambient and indoor air pollutants, water quality, ambient noise, residential crowding, housing quality, educational facilities, work environments, and neighborhood conditions. The authors conclude with research and policy implications of environmental justice.

This article emphasizes the importance and benefit of analyzing and addressing public health and the environment in tandem. Published after the turn of the 21st Century, it critiques the previous bifurcation of the public health and environment fields which led to generally negative impacts in both areas. The author calls for a new wave of strategies that aim to protect both the environment and health and acknowledges the environmental inequities among more susceptible and vulnerable populations.

One Health is a transdisciplinary approach that aims to balance and optimize the health across individuals and populations of people, animals, plants, and their shared ecosystems. This article explores the framework developed by One Health Sweden and advocates for more holistic studies. The authors suggest an application of this approach would be incorporating human wellbeing and animal welfare into one research study.

This article reviews ninety-four studies that examined residential proximity to environmental hazards in relation to adverse reproductive outcomes, childhood cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and other adverse health outcomes. In sum, several studies found that living near hazardous waste sites, industrial cites, cropland with pesticide use, highly trafficked roads, nuclear powers plants, and gas stations or repair shops is related to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. The authors encourage government agencies to consider these findings when establishing land use policies and enforcing procedures against polluters.

This article explains how urban living environments can influence and effect health. It reviews interventions to improve health equity by addressing concerns with the drinking water supply, air pollution from heating, vehicles, and urban industry, heat stress from global climate change, and other health hazards. The authors advocate for intervention implementation in urban areas because even small scale change has the potential to impact many people in a densely populated area. The authors also encourage more affluent countries to provide funding to low- and middle- income countries looking to address environmental inequities in their cities.

This article critiques the current state of public health, arguing for a shift towards an ecological perspective to address health equity. It highlights that traditional public health approaches often neglect the deep interconnections between human health and environmental health, frequently sidelining the role of ecosystems in shaping health outcomes. Land and Rayner argue that this disconnect has become more pronounced in the face of contemporary challenges such as climate change, economic crises, and rapid urbanization. They demonstrate that human health is deeply intertwined with the health of ecosystems— which are increasingly threatened by factors like pollution and biodiversity loss—and advocate for an "ecological public health" model. This approach emphasizes understanding health through complex interactions across biological, material, social, and cultural dimensions. It recognizes that sustainable and equitable health outcomes depend on maintaining healthy ecosystems and addressing broader socio-environmental determinants of health.

This article explores Indigenous perspectives on wellbeing, emphasizing the integral role of the environment and nature. It highlights how many Indigenous peoples view wellbeing as a holistic concept intertwining the self, community, and land. Unlike Western approaches that often focus on individual health, many Indigenous views encompass environmental health as essential for overall well-being. The disruption of this connection, particularly through land grabbing and extractivist practices, leads to significant losses in physical, mental, and spiritual health among Indigenous peoples. For instance, when peoples lose access to their lands, they face deteriorated physical health due to the loss of traditional food systems and medicinal resources, as well as increased mental health issues linked to cultural disconnection.The article also discusses the incorporation of Indigenous concepts like Sumak Kawsay (Buen Vivir) into national frameworks, exemplified by its inclusion in Ecuador's Constitution. This concept reflects a worldview where wellbeing is achieved through harmony with nature, underscoring that human health is inherently linked to the health of the environment.

This article highlights that the relationship between human health and the environment is mediated by the principles of environmental ethics. The authors argue that ecosystem services, such as those provided by green spaces, offer both tangible benefits like improved physical health and intangible benefits such as mental well-being. However, the distribution of these benefits often reveals disparities linked to socio-demographic factors, underscoring the need for an equitable approach to environmental management. The article emphasizes that an ecocentric perspective—one that acknowledges both the intrinsic and instrumental values of nature—is vital for creating sustainable health promotion strategies. This perspective helps bridge the gap between environmental conservation and public health by incorporating broader ethical and justice considerations. For instance, the integration of restorative justice within ecosystem management can better address social and ecological concerns, making green spaces more accessible and beneficial to marginalized communities. Furthermore, the authors discuss challenges in balancing individual healthcare needs with broader sustainability goals and the ethical tensions that arise from these competing demands. They advocate for a holistic approach where environmental ethics and justice are embedded in health promotion frameworks, ensuring that green spaces and other ecosystem services contribute to equitable and sustainable health outcomes.