Greenness and allergies: evidence of differential associations in two areas in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Positive greenness effects on health are increasingly reported, although studies on allergic outcomes remain limited and conflicting. We examined whether residential greenness is associated with childhood doctor diagnosed allergic rhinitis, eyes and nose symptoms and aeroallergen sensitisation using two combined birth cohorts (GINIplus and LISAplus) followed from birth to 10 years in northern and southern Germany (Ntotal=5803).

Methods

Mean residential greenness in a 500 m buffer around the 10-year home addresses was defined using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, a green biomass density indicator. Longitudinal associations were assessed per study area (GINI/LISA South and GINI/LISA North) using generalised estimation equations adjusted for host and envi

SUBMITTER: Fuertes E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4112441 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature