Living near major roads and the incidence of dementia, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis: a population-based cohort study

Chen, Hong; Kwong, Jeffrey C.; Copes, Ray; Tu, Karen; Villeneuve, Paul J.; Donkelaar, Aaron van; Hystad, Perry; Martin, Randall V.; Murray, Brian J.; Jessiman, Barry; Wilton, Andrew S.; Kopp, Alexander; Burnett, Richard T.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)32399-6

Cited by 635 publications

(450 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Trees themselves do emit varying amounts of volatile compounds, 63 but overall they reduce the levels of pollutants close to roads. [64][65][66] For instance, a single maple tree can remove 48 lb (22 kg) of particulates and 100 lb (45 kg) of carbon each year, as well as toxic metals, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide. The link between residence close to roads and dementia and other problems 67 could be due to exposure to the many pollutants emitted by vehicles, such as nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, ozone, metals, organic compounds and differently sized particulates.…”

Section: The Green Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening

Thompson

2018

Clinical Medicine

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There is increasing evidence that exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health, and so could reduce the pressure on NHS services. Health professionals should therefore encourage their patients to make use of green space and to work in gardens, and should pressure local authorities to increase open spaces and the number of trees, thus also helping to counteract air pollution and climate change.There is anxiety that the NHS cannot cope now and in the future with the health needs of an increasing and ageing population. It is also realised that pharmaceutical drugs, transformative though they have been, are increasingly expensive and are not always as effective as they appear in the results of early, enthusiastically reported, clinical trials. Drugs are also prescribed at the cost of side effects, which are a leading cause of admissions to hospital, particularly for the elderly, who are poorly represented in trials.Health depends on a range of social, economic and environmental factors, as is emphasised by the shaming disparity between the length of life in different areas of the country.

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Section: The Green Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening

Thompson

2018

Clinical Medicine

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“…Exposure to traffic-related air pollution may also be associated with increased risk of dementia. Chen et al (2017) studied a large adult population of Ontario between 2001 and 2012, and they found that incident dementia was 7 % higher for people living within 50 m away from major roads than for the general population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-path measurements of pollutants and micrometeorology over Highway 401 in Toronto

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Traffic emissions contribute significantly to urban air pollution. Measurements were conducted over Highway 401 in Toronto, Canada, with a long-path Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer combined with a suite of micrometeorological instruments to identify and quantify a range of air pollutants. Results were compared with simultaneous in situ observations at a roadside monitoring station, and with output from a special version of the operational Canadian air quality forecast model (GEM-MACH). Elevated mixing ratios of ammonia (0-23 ppb) were observed, of which 76 % were associated with traffic emissions. Hydrogen cyanide was identified at mixing ratios between 0 and 4 ppb. Using a simple dispersion model, an integrated emission factor of on average 2.6 g km −1 carbon monoxide was calculated for this defined section of Highway 401, which agreed well with estimates based on vehicular emission factors and observed traffic volumes. Based on the same dispersion calculations, vehicular average emission factors of 0.04, 0.36, and 0.15 g km −1 were calculated for ammonia, nitrogen oxide, and methanol, respectively.

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“…Including such factors as occupation, heavy metals, petro‐chemicals, organophosphate/pesticides26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and possible influence of electromagnetic field (EMF)18, 25, 31 and military service 32. Although not all studies related to ALS have consistently reported environmental factors,33 the majority have highlighted environmental factors rather than longevity4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 as well as epigenetic changes,33, 34, 35 whist recently, research had linked rises in dementias to proximity to major roads 30…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controlled population-based comparative study of USA and international adult [55-74] neurological deaths 1989-2014

et al. 2017

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ObjectivesA population‐based controlled study to determine whether adult (55‐74 years) neurological disease deaths are continuing to rise and are there significant differences between America and the twenty developed countries 1989‐91 and 2012‐14.MethodTotal Neurological Deaths (TND) rates contrasted against control Cancer and Circulatory Disease Deaths (CDD) extrapolated from WHO data. Confidence intervals compare USA and the other countries over the period. The Over‐75's TND and population increases are examined as a context for the 55‐74 outcomes.ResultsMale neurological deaths rose >10% in eleven countries, the other countries average rose 20% the USA 43% over the period. Female neurological deaths rose >10% in ten counties, averaging 14%, the USA up 68%. USA male and female neurological deaths increased significantly more than twelve and seventeen countries, respectively. USA over‐75s population increased by 49%, other countries 56%. Other countries TND up 187% the USA rose fourfold. Male and female cancer and CDD fell in every country averaging 26% and 21%, respectively, and 64% and 67% for CDD. Male neurological rates rose significantly more than Cancer and CCD in every country; Female neurological deaths rose significantly more than cancer in 17 countries and every country for CDD. There was no significant correlation between increases in neurological deaths and decreases in control mortalities.ConclusionsThere are substantial increases in neurological deaths in most countries, significantly so in America. Rises in the 55‐74 and over‐75's rates are not primarily due to demographic changes and are a matter of concern warranting further investigation.

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Living near major roads and the incidence of dementia, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis: a population-based cohort study

Cited by 635 publications

References 31 publications

Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening

Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening

Long-path measurements of pollutants and micrometeorology over Highway 401 in Toronto

Controlled population-based comparative study of USA and international adult [55-74] neurological deaths 1989-2014

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