Towards a global framework for transport, health and health equity.

This study derives a generalised global framework for transport, health and health equity, based on a synthesis of 94 urban transport and health frameworks. The framework emphasises factors related to health equity, which are generally ignored in existing conceptual frameworks on the relationship between transport and health. While some factors such as travel behaviour were included in most reviewed frameworks, climate change and other macro-level factors were included in less than a quarter of frameworks, and health equity was included in less than 10%.

Systematic Review of the Health and Equity Impacts of Remediation and Redevelopment of Contaminated Sites.

(1) Background: Globally there is a vast legacy of contaminated sites from past industrial, commercial and military activity, waste disposal, and mineral extraction. This review examined the extent to which the remediation of contaminated sites reduces health risks to new and existing populations. (2) Methods: Standard academic databases were searched for papers that reported on health-related outcomes in humans following remediation and redevelopment of contaminated sites.

Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework.

Biodiversity is a cornerstone of human health and well-being. However, while evidence of the contributions of nature to human health is rapidly building, research into how biodiversity relates to human health remains limited in important respects. In particular, a better mechanistic understanding of the range of pathways through which biodiversity can influence human health is needed.

Are There Changes in Inequalities in Injuries? A Review of Evidence in the WHO European Region.

Decreases in injury rates globally and in Europe in the past decades, although encouraging, may mask previously reported social inequalities between and within countries that persist or even increase. European research on this issue has not been systematically reviewed, which is the aim of this article. Between and within-country studies from the WHO European Region that investigate changes in social inequalities in injuries over time or in recent decades were sought in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Incorporating Environmental Justice into Second Generation Indices of Multiple Deprivation: Lessons from the UK and Progress Internationally.

Second generation area-based indices of multiple deprivation have been extensively used in the UK over the last 15 years. They resulted from significant developments in political, technical, and conceptual spheres for deprivation data. We review the parallel development of environmental justice research and how and when environmental data was incorporated into these indices.

Development of a quantitative methodology to assess the impacts of urban transport interventions and related noise on well-being.

Well-being impact assessments of urban interventions are a difficult challenge, as there is no agreed methodology and scarce evidence on the relationship between environmental conditions and well-being. The European Union (EU) project "Urban Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China and Europe" (URGENCHE) explored a methodological approach to assess traffic noise-related well-being impacts of transport interventions in three European cities (Basel, Rotterdam and Thessaloniki) linking modeled traffic noise reduction effects with survey data indicating noise-well-being associations. Local noise models showed a reduction of high traffic noise levels in all cities as a result of different urban interventions.

Wellbeing impacts of city policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

To mitigate climate change, city authorities are developing policies in areas such as transportation, housing and energy use, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to their effects on greenhouse gas emissions, these policies are likely to have consequences for the wellbeing of their populations for example through changes in opportunities to take physical exercise. In order to explore the potential consequences for wellbeing, we first explore what 'wellbeing' is and how it can be operationalised for urban planners.

The interactive effects of housing and neighbourhood quality on psychological well-being.

Background: Many individuals are subject to the physically and mentally detrimental effects of living in substandard housing and inadequate neighbourhoods. We propose that better physical neighbourhood quality can partially offset some of the negative effects of poor housing quality on psychological well-being.

Methods: Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data in a cross-sectional study of housing quality, the state of the surrounding environment, and individual health and well-being for 5605 European adults from the Large Analysis and Review of European housing and health Status conducted by WHO in eight European cities.

Social inequities in environmental risks associated with housing and residential location--a review of evidence.

Background: Housing conditions and environmental quality of residential areas are differentially distributed in the population. Less affluent population groups are more often affected by inadequate housing conditions and higher environmental burden in their residential neighbourhoods. A synthesis of the dispersed evidence on health-related housing characteristics and social status is needed to provide support for housing policies addressing social inequities.

Dampness and mold in the home and depression: an examination of mold-related illness and perceived control of one's home as possible depression pathways.

Objectives: We evaluated a previously reported association between residence in a damp and moldy dwelling and the risk of depression and investigated whether depression was mediated by perception of control over one's home or mold-related physical illness.

Methods: We used survey data from 8 European cities. A dampness and mold score was created from resident- and inspector-reported data.

Housing and health in Europe: preliminary results of a pan-European study.

Objectives: The World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe has undertaken a large study to evaluate housing and health in 7 European cities.

Methods: Survey tools were used to obtain information about housing and living conditions, health perception, and health status from a representative sample of the population in each city.

Results: In Forli, Italy, the first city studied, preliminary findings indicate some important potential links between housing and health.