Improving Urban Environments Could Prevent Nearly 1 in 10 Asthma Cases, Large-Scale Study Finds

A recent extensive study highlights the significant impact of urban environmental factors on the development of asthma. Conducted across seven European countries with data from nearly 350,000 individuals, the research emphasizes how elements like air pollution, urban density, and limited green spaces contribute to the risk of asthma in both children and adults. By analyzing home address data and satellite imagery, scientists assessed environmental exposures such as pollution levels, outdoor temperatures, and the presence of green or blue areas (water bodies). The findings reveal that approximately 11.6% of asthma cases could be attributed to the combined effect of these environmental factors. This means that in better-managed urban environments, about one in ten asthma cases could potentially be avoided. The study especially underscores the role of air pollution, scarcity of green spaces, and dense urban development in increasing disease risk.

These insights are particularly valuable for urban planners and policymakers, as they can help identify high-risk areas and inform future city development to reduce health risks. The researchers are now examining blood samples from participants to better understand how external environmental exposures influence the body’s metabolism and contribute to asthma development. This research is part of the EU project's EXPANSE, which investigates how environmental exposures affect various health conditions, including heart disease, COPD, and diabetes. Ultimately, enhancing urban environments by reducing pollution and increasing green spaces could make a meaningful difference in preventing asthma and other related health issues.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-asthma-cases-urban-environment-large.html