Health and Wellbeing Benefits from the Coast · The team: Ian Alcock, Debbie Cracknell, Michael...
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Health and Wellbeing Benefits from the Coast Bathing Waters - Southport - March 5th 2013 Mat White Lecturer in Risk & Health European Centre for Environment & Human Health
Transcript of Health and Wellbeing Benefits from the Coast · The team: Ian Alcock, Debbie Cracknell, Michael...
Health and Wellbeing Benefits from the Coast
Bathing Waters - Southport - March 5th 2013
Mat White
Lecturer in Risk & Health
European Centre for Environment & Human Health
Health & the environment
Good quality environments
are good for human health
Green space & health
Living near green space is associated with:
- lower stress
- decreased risk of mortality by age 65
Sea & human health
So far the focus has been on threats to health
RISKS
Microbial pollution Storms, Floods &
Climate Change
Fisheries Destruction HABs & Other Toxins
Man-made Chemicals
Sea & human health
Even today: 260 Million trips to the English coast a year
Royal Sea Bathing Hospital -
Margate (Est.1791) Dr Richard Russell
(1687– 1759)
What do people do at the coast these days?
Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment
(MENE, n = 142,031; visits n = 11,680)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Fre
qu
en
cy (
tota
l n
= 1
,290)
2% 3%
17%
70%
Coast & health: Main pathways
Exposure
to coast
+ Physical
Health
PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE COAST ARE HEALTHIER
Self-reported health
Census Data (England, n = 48 million)
Census Data & Health
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
50+km(ref) 21-50 km 6-20 km 1-5 km < 1 km
% c
ha
ng
e in
po
pu
lati
on
wit
h "
go
od
h
ea
lth
"
Home (LSOA) distance from the coast
***
***
***
***
ref *** p < .001
Coast & health: Main pathways
Exposure
to coast
+ Physical
Health
> Exercise
Do people who live near the coast exercise more?
PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THE COAST ARE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
0.90
0.95
1.00
1.05
1.10
1.15
50+km(ref) 21-50 km 6-20 km 1-5 km < 1 km
Od
ds
Ra
tio
fo
r m
ee
tin
g p
hys
ica
l a
cti
vit
y g
uid
eli
ne
s
Home (LSOA) distance from the coast
**
***
ns ns ref
Ns = not significant;
** p < .01 ;*** p < .001
Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment
(MENE, n = 142,031)
Coast & health: Main pathways
Exposure
to coast
< Stress
+ Physical
Health
> Exercise
3.90
3.95
4.00
4.05
4.10
4.15
4.20
4.25
4.30
Urban parks Countryside Coast Urban parks Countryside Coast
Str
es
s r
ed
uc
tio
n
Stress reduction from coastal visits
All activities (n = 11,680) Walking (n = 5,592)
ref
* p < .05
*
*
Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment
(visits n = 11,680)
3.90
3.95
4.00
4.05
4.10
4.15
4.20
4.25
4.30
Urban parks Countryside Coast Urban parks Countryside Coast
Str
es
s r
ed
uc
tio
n
Stress reduction from coastal visits
VISITING THE COAST IS PARTICULARLY STRESS REDUCING
All activities (n = 11,680) Walking (n = 5,592)
ref
* p < .05
*
*
ref
*
*
Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment
(visits n = 11,680)
Coast & health: Main pathways
Exposure
to coast
< Stress
+ Physical
Health
> Exercise
THE EFFECTS ARE STRONGESTS IN
POORER COMMUNITIES
THE EFFECTS ARE SMALL BUT
IMPORTANT AT A POPULATION LEVEL
Coast & health: Current research
2 key questions under investigation:
a) Will improving coastal access improve population health?
Improving coastal access
Areas of relative deprivation to be monitored in the proposed research
COastal AccesS Trial (COAST)
What impact will improved coastal
access have on the health & well-being
of deprived coastal communities?
Coast & health: Current research
2 key questions under investigation:
a) Will improving coastal access improve population health?
b) Can we bring the coast inland/indoors?
Blindfolded and listened to one of 4 recordings
Control Urban Green Coast
Duration = 5 minutes
Several outcomes: focus on Heart Rate
Stress Reduction & Sounds
The cues & clues of the coast effect
† p < .1; * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001
†
The cues & clues of the coast effect
Stress Reduction & Sounds
†
The cues & clues of the coast effect
Stress Reduction & Sounds
† p < .1; * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001
***
**
†
The cues & clues of the coast effect
Stress Reduction & Sounds
† p < .1; * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001
Bringing the sea into health care
Outcomes
Pain
Ease of treatment
Keep appointments
Dental RCT
1) Other countries?
2) What is the optimal dose?
3) How long do effects last?
4) What about children?
5) Environmental impact?
6) Comparisons to drugs (e.g. depression)?
Just some of the remaining questions
Coast & health: Main pathways
Exposure
to coast
< Stress
+ Physical
Health
> Exercise
< Pharmaceuticals
The team: Ian Alcock, Debbie Cracknell, Michael Depledge, Karin Dijkstra, Lewis Elliot, Lora
Fleming, Amanda Hignett, Rebecca Jenkin, Sabine Pahl, Cassie Phoenix, Jo Ross, John Rowe,
Tim Taylor, Chloe Thomas, Ben Wheeler, Kayleigh Wyles.
Contact - Mat White: [email protected]
www.ecehh.org.uk
Thanks very much for your attention
Health & well-being benefits from the coast
