Environmental Science · Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Native verge gardens were more common over time near other verge gardens in two Perth-area communities, a study found. Adoption rates were 11% in Claremont and 18% in Daglish, and many conversions took place without government support.
A qualitative study of 15 users of preventive mental health services examined how urban nature contributes to deeper well-being. Participants described nearby courtyards, gardens and other green places as settings for agency, social connection, purpose and belonging.
A study of Portland neighborhoods found that areas with persistent disadvantage had the highest pollution and hazard exposure, the least access to nature and the poorest health outcomes. The findings suggest that historical redlining alone does not explain the city’s current environmental and health inequities.
A study using computer vision to track pedestrians in a busy shopping district in Fukuoka, Japan, found that walking speed changes with both temperature and COVID emergency restrictions. The effects varied by time of day and by why people were walking, with night-time pedestrians showing more varied responses and a younger nighttime population during emergency periods.
