Concrete urbanization harms health
14:00
It is not a medical condition, but a colloquial term referring to excessive urban development, which comes at the expense of greenery. There is increasing evidence that it also comes at the expense of health. There is no doubt that as human beings, we need urban nature for both physical and mental well-being. It is essential to be aware of this, especially in the context of the still-popular trend of "densifying" cities with more buildings.
As recently reported by experts from the Spanish ISGlobal, so-called "heat islands" can be linked to over 4 percent of deaths that occur in European countries during the summer and 1.8 percent throughout the year. Heat islands refer to densely built-up urban blocks that accumulate thermal energy in their walls and surfaces. The temperature in these areas is significantly higher than outside the city, and the lack of plants slows down the cooling evaporation of water. In such places, the temperature is higher compared to less densely built and plant-rich areas. Researchers report that heat islands have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases compared to other areas.
