Gulf Ecology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US EPA, Office of Research and Development, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL, 32561-5299, USA.
Int J Public Health. 2018 Jan;63(1):81-92. doi: 10.1007/s00038-017-1020-3. Epub 2017 Aug 1.
In the last decade, we saw an upsurge of studies evaluating the role of ecosystem goods and services (EGS) on human health (Eco-Health). Most of this work consists of observational research of intermediate processes and few address the full pathways from ecosystem to EGS to human health, limiting our ability to assess causality.
We conducted a causal criteria analysis of Eco-Health literature using Eco-Evidence, a software tool that helps evaluate evidence of cause-effect relationships. We focus on the context of green spaces providing "buffering" EGS that may influence disease.
We found support for a causal linkage between green spaces and all of the EGS tested, and sufficient evidence linking EGS to gastro intestinal disease and heat morbidities. Inconsistencies were found when assessing the link between EGS to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Few studies directly link green spaces to health. Those that do, support a connection to cardiovascular disease, and heat morbidities, but provide inconsistent evidence regarding respiratory illness.
Our results help establish an agenda to shape future Eco-Health research and define priorities for managing green spaces to provide human health benefits.
在过去的十年中，我们见证了大量研究评估生态系统商品和服务（EGS）对人类健康的影响（生态健康）。这些研究大多是对中间过程的观察性研究，很少有研究能够全面揭示从生态系统到 EGS 再到人类健康的完整途径，这限制了我们评估因果关系的能力。
我们使用生态证据（Eco-Evidence）软件工具对生态健康文献进行因果标准分析，该工具可帮助评估因果关系的证据。我们重点关注绿色空间提供“缓冲”EGS 的情况，这些 EGS 可能会影响疾病。
我们发现绿色空间与所有测试的 EGS 之间存在因果联系，并且有足够的证据表明 EGS 与胃肠道疾病和热病态之间存在联系。在评估 EGS 与心血管和呼吸系统疾病之间的联系时，存在不一致的情况。很少有研究直接将绿色空间与健康联系起来。那些确实将两者联系起来的研究支持了与心血管疾病和热病态之间的联系，但关于呼吸系统疾病的证据并不一致。
我们的研究结果有助于制定未来生态健康研究的议程，并确定管理绿色空间以提供人类健康益处的优先事项。
