Inverse relationship between urban green space and childhood autism in California elementary school districts.

ABSTRACT: Green space has a variety of health benefits. However, little is known about its impact on autism, the fastest-growing neurodevelopmental disorder in children. This study examined the relationship between green space and childhood autism prevalence. Autism count data in 2010 were obtained for 543 of ~560 public elementary school districts in California. Multiple types of green space were measured in each school district, including percentages of forest, grassland, and average tree canopy and near-road tree canopy. Their associations with autism prevalence were evaluated with negative binomial regression models and spatial regression models. We observed inverse associations between several green space metrics and autism prevalence in school districts with high road density, the highly urban

SUBMITTER: Wu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6104398 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature