Greenspace

Research in the Department of Environmental Health focuses on ways to mitigate the health effects of harmful exposures through increasing beneficial exposures, including greenspace and nutrition.

Access to greenspace such as urban parks, forests, and even increased tree-cover in neighborhoods can have additional benefits including reducing exposure to air pollution, extreme heat, and stress, while increasing opportunities for physical activity and social connection.

Emerging research has also shown that exposure to residential greenness, or natural vegetation around the home, can have health benefits throughout life, and may potentially help to stave off cognitive decline in adulthood. Links between access to greenspace and cardiovascular health are also being examined.