Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Eco-Health linkages: assessing the role of ecosystem goods and services on human health using causal criteria analysis

  • Review
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

Our results help establish an agenda to shape future Eco-Health research and define priorities for managing green spaces to provide human health benefits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Araya M, Olivares M, Pizarro F, Llanos A, Figueroa G, Uauy R (2004) Community-based randomized double-blind study of gastrointestinal effects and copper exposure in drinking water. Environ Health Perspect 112(10):1068–1073. doi:10.1289/ehp.6913

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Beckett KP, Freer-Smith PH, Taylor G (2000) Particulate pollution capture by urban trees: effect of species and windspeed. Glob Change Biol 6(8):995–1003. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2486.2000.00376.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bliss DJ, Neufeld RD, Ries RJ (2009) Storm water runoff mitigation using a green roof. Environ Eng Sci 26(2):407–418. doi:10.1089/ees.2007.0186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchama A, Knochel JP (2002) Heat stroke. N Engl J Med 346(25):1978–1988. doi:10.1056/NEJMra011089

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brody SD, Highfield WE (2013) Open space protection and flood mitigation: a national study. Land Use Policy 32:89–95. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.10.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brook RD, Franklin B, Cascio W, Hong Y, Howard G, Lipsett M, Luepker R, Mittleman M, Samet J, Smith SC, Tager I (2004) Air pollution and cardiovascular disease. Circulation 109(21):2655–2671. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.0000128587.30041.C8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burkart K, Meier F, Schneider A, Breitner S, Canário P, Alcoforado MJ, Scherer D, Endlicher W (2016) Modification of heat-related mortality in an elderly urban population by vegetation (urban green) and proximity to water (urban blue): evidence from Lisbon, Portugal. Environ Health Perspect 124(7):927. doi:10.1289/ehp.1409529

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh JA, Zawar-Reza P, Wilson JG (2009) Spatial attenuation of ambient particulate matter air pollution within an urbanised native forest patch. Urban For Urban Greening 8(1):21–30. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2008.10.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang CC, Chen PS, Yang CY (2015) Short-term effects of fine particulate air pollution on hospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases: a case-crossover study in a tropical city. J Toxicol Environ Health Part A 78(4):267–277. doi:10.1080/15287394.2014.960044

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chew GL, Wilson J, Rabito FA, Grimsley F, Iqbal S, Reponen T, Muilenberg ML, Thorne PS, Dearborn DG, Morley RL (2006) Mold and endotoxin levels in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: a pilot project of homes in New Orleans undergoing renovation. Environ Health Perspect 114(12):1883–1889. doi:10.1289/ehp.9258

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Collier SA, Wade TJ, Sams EA, Hlavsa MC, Dufour AP, Beach MJ (2015) Swimming in the USA: beachgoer characteristics and health outcomes at US marine and freshwater beaches. J Water Health 13(2):531–543. doi:10.2166/wh.2014.095

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Corvalan C, Hales S, McMichael AJ (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: health synthesis. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanza R, Pérez-Maqueo O, Martinez ML, Sutton P, Anderson SJ, Mulder K (2008) The value of coastal wetlands for hurricane protection. AMBIO J Human Environ 37(4):241–248. doi:10.1579/0044-7447(2008)37[241:TVOCWF]2.0.CO;2

  • Dales RE, Zwanenburg H, Burnett R, Franklin CA (1991) Respiratory health effects of home dampness and molds among Canadian children. Am J Epidemiol 134(2):196–203. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116072

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Lacerda LD, Abrao JJ (1984) Heavy metal accumulation by mangrove and saltmarsh intertidal sediments. Rvta Brasil Bot 7:49–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Delfino RJ, Staimer N, Tjoa T, Gillen DL, Schauer JJ, Shafer MM (2013) Airway inflammation and oxidative potential of air pollutant particles in a pediatric asthma panel. J Eposure Sci Environ Epidemiol 23(5):466–473. doi:10.1038/jes.2013.25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donovan GH, Michael YL, Gatziolis D, Prestemon JP, Whitsel EA (2015) Is tree loss associated with cardiovascular-disease risk in the Women’s Health Initiative? A natural experiment. Health Place 36:1–7. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.08.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galobardes B, Morabia A, Bernstein MS (2001) Diet and socioeconomic position: does the use of different indicators matter? Int J Epidemiol 30(2):334–340. doi:10.1093/ije/30.2.334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Granek EF, Ruttenberg BI (2007) Protective capacity of mangroves during tropical storms: a case study from ‘Wilma’and ‘Gamma’in Belize. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 343:101–105. doi:10.3354/meps07141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grundström M, Pleijel H (2014) Limited effect of urban tree vegetation on NO2 and O3 concentrations near a traffic route. Environ Pollut 189:73–76. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2014.02.026

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hajat A, Allison M, Diez-Roux AV, Jenny NS, Jorgensen NW, Szpiro AA, Vedal S, Kaufman JD (2015) Long-term exposure to air pollution and markers of inflammation, coagulation, and endothelial activation: a repeat-measures analysis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Epidemiology 26(3):310–320. doi:10.1097/EDE.0000000000000267

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Harlan SL, Declet-Barreto JH, Stefanov WL, Petitti DB (2013) Neighborhood effects on heat deaths: social and environmental predictors of vulnerability in Maricopa County, Arizona. Environ Health Perspect 121(2):197. doi:10.1289/ehp.1104625

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hartig T, Mitchell R, De Vries S, Frumkin H (2014) Nature and health. Annu Rev Public Health 18(35):207–228. doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182443

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou P, Chen Y, Qiao W, Cao G, Jiang W, Li J (2013) Near-surface air temperature retrieval from satellite images and influence by wetlands in urban region. Theor Appl Climatol 111(1–2):109–118. doi:10.1007/s00704-012-0629-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hulshof KF, Löwik MR, Kok FJ, Wedel M, Brants HA, Hermus RJ, Ten Hoor F (1991) Diet and other life-style factors in high and low socio-economic groups (Dutch Nutrition Surveillance System). Eur J Clin Nutr 45(9):441–450

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson LE, Daniel J, McCorkle B, Sears A, Bush KF (2013) Linking ecosystem services and human health: the Eco-Health Relationship Browser. Int J Public Health 58(5):747–755. doi:10.1007/s00038-013-0482-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kabisch N, Haase D (2013) Green spaces of European cities revisited for 1990–2006. Landsc Urban Plan 110:113–122. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.10.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kagawa J (1985) Evaluation of biological significance of nitrogen oxides exposure. Tokai J Exp Clin Med 10(4):348–53

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karim MR, Manshadi FD, Karpiscak MM, Gerba CP (2004) The persistence and removal of enteric pathogens in constructed wetlands. Water Res 38(7):1831–1837. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2003.12.029

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katukiza AY, Ronteltap M, Steen P, Foppen JW, Lens PN (2014) Quantification of microbial risks to human health caused by waterborne viruses and bacteria in an urban slum. J Appl Microbiol 116(2):447–463. doi:10.1111/jam.12368

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kong F, Yin H, Wang C, Cavan G, James P (2014) A satellite image-based analysis of factors contributing to the green-space cool island intensity on a city scale. Urban For Urban Greening 13(4):846–853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee AC, Maheswaran R (2011) The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence. J Public Health 33(2):212–222. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdq068

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li N, Xia T, Nel AE (2008) The role of oxidative stress in ambient particulate matter-induced lung diseases and its implications in the toxicity of engineered nanoparticles. Free Radic Biol Med 44(9):1689–1699. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.01.028

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Zhou W, Ouyang Z (2013) Relationship between land surface temperature and spatial pattern of greenspace: what are the effects of spatial resolution? Landsc Urban Plan 114:1–8. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.01.028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H, AlMazroa MA, Amann M, Anderson HR, Andrews KG, Aryee M (2013) A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 380(9859):2224–2260. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61766-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovasi GS, O’Neil-Dunne JP, Lu JW, Sheehan D, Perzanowski MS, MacFaden SW, King KL, Matte T, Miller RL, Hoepner LA, Perera FP (2013) Urban tree canopy and asthma, wheeze, rhinitis, and allergic sensitization to tree pollen in a New York City birth cohort. Environ Health Perspect 121(4):494. doi:10.1289/ehp.1205513

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Makaryus M, Iakovou A, Lisker G (2015) A case of severe asthma with fungal sensitization (safs) due to Aureobasidium Pullulans following Hurricane Sandy. In: Interesting cases in allergy and immunology. American Thoracic Society, pp A5644–A5644

  • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC. ISBN 1-59726-040-1

    Google Scholar 

  • Möller I, Kudella M, Rupprecht F, Spencer T, Paul M, Van Wesenbeeck BK, Wolters G, Jensen K, Bouma TJ, Miranda-Lange M, Schimmels S (2014) Wave attenuation over coastal salt marshes under storm surge conditions. Nat Geosci 7(10):727–731. doi:10.1038/ngeo2251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munns WR, Rea AW, Mazzotta MJ, Wainger LA, Saterson K (2015) Toward a standard lexicon for ecosystem services. Integr Environ Assess Manag 11(4):666–673. doi:10.1002/ieam.1631

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nel A, Xia T, Mädler L, Li N (2006) Toxic potential of materials at the nanolevel. Science 311(5761):622–627

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen T, Yu X, Zhang Z, Liu M, Liu X (2015) Relationship between types of urban forest and PM 2.5 capture at three growth stages of leaves. J Environ Sci 27:33–41. doi:10.1016/j.jes.2014.04.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris RH, Webb JA, Nichols SJ, Stewardson MJ, Harrison ET (2011) Analyzing cause and effect in environmental assessments: using weighted evidence from the literature. Freshw Sci 31(1):5–21. doi:10.1899/11-027.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norton BA, Coutts AM, Livesley SJ, Harris RJ, Hunter AM, Williams NS (2015) Planning for cooler cities: a framework to prioritise green infrastructure to mitigate high temperatures in urban landscapes. Landsc Urban Plan 134:127–138. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.10.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nowak DJ, Crane DE, Stevens JC, Hoehn RE, Walton JT, Bond J (2008) A ground-based method of assessing urban forest structure and ecosystem services. Arboric Urban For 34(6):347–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowak DJ, Hirabayashi S, Bodine A, Hoehn R (2013) Modeled PM2.5 removal by trees in ten US cities and associated health effects. Environ Pollut 178:395–402. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.03.050

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park KJ, Moon JY, Ha JS, Kim SD, Pyun BY, Min TK, Park YH (2013) Impacts of heavy rain and typhoon on allergic disease. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 4(3):140–145. doi:10.1016/j.phrp.2013.04.009

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira G, Christian H, Foster S, Boruff BJ, Bull F, Knuiman M, Giles-Corti B (2013) The association between neighborhood greenness and weight status: an observational study in Perth Western Australia. Environ Health 12(1):49. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-49

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Peters A, Döring A, Wichmann HE, Koenig W (1997) Increased plasma viscosity during an air pollution episode: a link to mortality? Lancet 349(9065):1582–1587. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)01211-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pope CA III, Burnett RT, Thun MJ, Calle EE, Krewski D, Ito K, Thurston GD (2002) Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality, and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution. JAMA 287(9):1132–1141. doi:10.1001/jama.287.9.1132

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pokorný J, Květ J, Rejšková A, Brom J (2010) Wetlands as energy-dissipating systems. J Ind Microbiol biotechnol 37(12):1299–305

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prescott GJ, Lee RJ, Cohen GR, Elton RA, Lee AJ, Fowkes FG, Agius RM (2000) Investigation of factors which might indicate susceptibility to particulate air pollution. Occup Environ Med 57(1):53–57. doi:10.1136/oem.57.1.53

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Räsänen JV, Holopainen T, Joutsensaari J, Ndam C, Pasanen P, Rinnan Å, Kivimäenpää M (2013) Effects of species-specific leaf characteristics and reduced water availability on fine particle capture efficiency of trees. Environ Pollut 183:64–70. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.015

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reacher M, McKenzie K, Lane C, Nichols T, Kedge I, Iversen A, Hepple P, Walter T, Laxton C, Simpson J (2004) Health impacts of flooding in Lewes: a comparison of reported gastrointestinal and other illness and mental health in flooded and non-flooded households. Commun Dise Public Health 7(1):39–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reinelt LE, Horner RR (1995) Pollutant removal from stormwater runoff by palustrine wetlands based on comprehensive budgets. Ecol Eng 4(2):77–97. doi:10.1016/0925-8574(94)00002-M

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reno AL, Brooks EG, Ameredes BT (2015) Mechanisms of heightened airway sensitivity and responses to inhaled SO2 in asthmatics. Environ Health Insights 9(Suppl 1):13

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson EA, Pearce J, Mitchell R, Kingham S (2013) Role of physical activity in the relationship between urban green space and health. Public Health 127(4):318–324. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2013.01.004

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Russo F, Williamson J (2007) Interpreting causality in the health sciences. Int Stud Philos Sci 21(2):157–170. doi:10.1080/02698590701498084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanahan DF, Lin BB, Bush R, Gaston KJ, Dean JH, Barber E, Fuller RA (2015) Toward improved public health outcomes from urban nature. Am J Public Health 105(3):470–477

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard CC, Crain CM, Beck MW (2011) The protective role of coastal marshes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 6(11):1–11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0027374

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva CA, Lacerda LD, Rezende CE (1990) Metals reservoir in a red mangrove forest. Biotropica 22(4):339–345. doi:10.2307/2388551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vailshery LS, Jaganmohan M, Nagendra H (2013) Effect of street trees on microclimate and air pollution in a tropical city. Urban For Urban Green 12(3):408–415. doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2013.03.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandentorren S, Bretin P, Zeghnoun A, Mandereau-Bruno L, Croisier A, Cochet C, Ribéron J, Siberan I, Declercq B, Ledrans M (2006) August 2003 heat wave in France: risk factors for death of elderly people living at home. Eur J Public Health 16(6):583–591. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl063

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wade TJ, Sandhu SK, Levy D, Lee S, LeChevallier MW, Katz L, Colford JM Jr (2004) Did a severe flood in the Midwest cause an increase in the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms? Am J Epidemiol 159(4):398–405. doi:10.1093/aje/kwh050

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walters S, Griffiths RK, Ayres JG (1994) Temporal association between hospital admissions for asthma in Birmingham and ambient levels of sulphur dioxide and smoke. Thorax 49(2):133–140. doi:10.1136/thx.49.10.1042

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wania A, Bruse M, Blond N, Weber C (2012) Analysing the influence of different street vegetation on traffic-induced particle dispersion using microscale simulations. J Environ Manag 94(1):91–101. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb JA, Miller KA, Stewardson MJ, de Little SC, Nichols SJ, Wealands SR (2015) An online database and desktop assessment software to simplify systematic reviews in environmental science. Environ Model Softw 64:72–79. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2014.11.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber F, Kowarik I, Säumel I (2014) Herbaceous plants as filters: immobilization of particulates along urban street corridors. Environ Pollut 186:234–240. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.12.011

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weed DL (1997) On the use of causal criteria. Int J Epidemiol 26(6):1137–1141. doi:10.1093/ije/26.6.1137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Q, Tam NF, Wong YS, Luan TG, Su WS, Lan CY, Shin PK, Cheung SG (2008) Potential use of mangroves as constructed wetland for municipal sewage treatment in Futian, Shenzhen, China. Mar Pollut Bull 57(6):735–743. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.01.037

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhen WM, Shan ZH, Gong WS, Yan TA, Zheng SK (2013) The weather temperature and air pollution interaction and its effect on hospital admissions due to respiratory system diseases in western China. Biomed Environ Sci 26:403–407. doi:10.3967/0895-3988.2013.05.011

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Laura Jackson, Mathew Harwell, Susan Yee, Marc Russell and anonymous reviewers for comments that greatly improved this manuscript. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Any mention of trade names, products or services does not imply an endorsement by the US Government or the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA does not endorse any commercial products, services, or enterprises.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

    Rebeca de Jesus Crespo & Richard Fulford

Authors
  1. Rebeca de Jesus Crespo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard Fulford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebeca de Jesus Crespo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest to declare.

Human or animal rights

Our work did not involve human subjects or third party funding sources.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 341 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

de Jesus Crespo, R., Fulford, R. Eco-Health linkages: assessing the role of ecosystem goods and services on human health using causal criteria analysis. Int J Public Health 63, 81–92 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1020-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-1020-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation