Division Forest, Nature and Landscape, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Celestijnenlaan 200E-2411, BE-3001, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Parkstraat 45-3609, BE-3000, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Plant Institute, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2437, BE-3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Risk and Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano (Belgian Institute of Health), Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, BE-1050, Brussels, Belgium; Division Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2435, BE-3001, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven Plant Institute, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2437, BE-3001, Leuven, Belgium; KU Leuven One Health Institute, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Schapenstraat 34 Box 5100, BE-3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Environ Res. 2024 Dec 15;263(Pt 2):120129. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120129. Epub 2024 Oct 9.
Urban heat poses significant challenges to public health, as exposure to high temperatures is associated to heat stress, resulting in heat strain, sleep deprivation, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. As the frequency of heat waves is increasing due to global warming, urban green spaces are often proposed as a nature-based solution to mitigate urban heat stress. This study investigated the impact of urban green space on perceived heat stress and sleep quality, using questionnaires and detailed land cover data. We surveyed 584 respondents during four heat and four control events in the summers of 2021 and 2022, assessing perceived heat stress, sleep quality, and mental health. Using structural equation models, this study analysed the influence of both tree cover and grass and shrub cover on perceived heat stress and sleep quality, while controlling for risk and vulnerability factors. The outcomes revealed that during heat events, enhanced tree cover was associated with reduced heat stress (B = -0.484, 95% CI [-0.693, -0.275], p = 0.001), while increased grass and shrub cover was associated with both reduced heat stress (B = -0.361 [-0.529, -0.193], p = 0.000) and improved sleep quality (B = -0. 241 [-0.399, -0.083], p = 0.003). Conversely, during control events, stress indicators were more strongly associated with individual vulnerability factors rather than surrounding green space. These results emphasize the importance of combining trees with lower vegetation in urban planning to mitigate heat-related stress and enhance sleep quality, thereby improving overall well-being during heat events.
城市热岛对公共健康构成重大挑战，因为高温暴露与热应激有关，导致热应激、睡眠剥夺以及心血管发病率和死亡率上升。随着全球变暖导致热浪发生频率增加，城市绿地通常被提议作为一种基于自然的解决方案来减轻城市热应激。本研究使用问卷和详细的土地覆盖数据，调查了城市绿地对感知热应激和睡眠质量的影响。我们在 2021 年和 2022 年的夏季四个热事件和四个对照事件中调查了 584 名受访者，评估了感知热应激、睡眠质量和心理健康。本研究使用结构方程模型分析了树木覆盖和草和灌木覆盖对感知热应激和睡眠质量的影响，同时控制了风险和脆弱性因素。研究结果表明，在热事件期间，增强的树木覆盖与降低的热应激相关（B=-0.484，95%置信区间[-0.693，-0.275]，p=0.001），而增加的草和灌木覆盖与降低的热应激（B=-0.361 [-0.529，-0.193]，p=0.000）和改善的睡眠质量（B=-0.241 [-0.399，-0.083]，p=0.003）相关。相反，在对照事件期间，压力指标与个体脆弱性因素的相关性更强，而与周围绿地的相关性较弱。这些结果强调了在城市规划中结合树木和低植被的重要性，以减轻与热相关的应激并提高睡眠质量，从而在热事件期间提高整体幸福感。
