Background: The interaction between urban noise and human health is a critical area of research, with evidence suggesting a negative impact on chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the potential mitigating role of urban green spaces on noise perception and its effects remains underexplored. Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the role of urban green spaces in reducing noise exposure and its health effects, providing an updated overview of the existing literature. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023467385). Three scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched for studies published between January 2000 and January 2025. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies and the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for experimental studies. Results: Out of 11,435 initially identified articles, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The evidence suggests that green spaces can help reduce noise-related distress, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of diseases associated with chronic stress. Conclusions: While there are indications of the positive role of urban greenery in mitigating noise and its health effects, the quality of evidence remains variable. Future research should adopt more standardized methodologies for measuring noise exposure and health outcomes, as well as better control for confounding factors. These insights are essential for guiding urban planning policies and improving quality of life in cities.
Urban greenness for the protection of adverse effects of noise on human health: A PRISMA systematic review
Ferrante M.Primo
;Rapisarda P.Secondo
;Castrogiovanni M.;Oliveri Conti G.
Penultimo
;Vinceti M.Ultimo
2025-01-01
Abstract
Background: The interaction between urban noise and human health is a critical area of research, with evidence suggesting a negative impact on chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the potential mitigating role of urban green spaces on noise perception and its effects remains underexplored. Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the role of urban green spaces in reducing noise exposure and its health effects, providing an updated overview of the existing literature. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines and registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023467385). Three scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched for studies published between January 2000 and January 2025. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies and the Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for experimental studies. Results: Out of 11,435 initially identified articles, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The evidence suggests that green spaces can help reduce noise-related distress, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of diseases associated with chronic stress. Conclusions: While there are indications of the positive role of urban greenery in mitigating noise and its health effects, the quality of evidence remains variable. Future research should adopt more standardized methodologies for measuring noise exposure and health outcomes, as well as better control for confounding factors. These insights are essential for guiding urban planning policies and improving quality of life in cities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
