A recent study conducted by researchers from Karolinska Institutet as part of a major EU collaboration has revealed the impact of environmental factors on the development of asthma in urban areas. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, focused on nearly 350,000 individuals across seven European countries to analyze the relationship between air pollution, urban density, and green spaces on the risk of asthma.
By combining data on environmental exposures such as air pollution, outdoor temperatures, and urban density, the researchers were able to paint a comprehensive picture of how these factors collectively influence the development of asthma. Using satellite images to identify areas with buildings, green spaces, or water, the study found that the combination of air pollution, lack of green spaces, and dense urban development had the most significant impact on asthma risk.
During the study period, approximately 7,500 participants developed asthma as children or adults. The researchers determined that 11.6% of asthma cases could be attributed to the combination of environmental factors. In other words, in a more favorable environment, about one in ten individuals with asthma may not have developed the disease.
The implications of this study are crucial for urban planning and public health policies. By identifying high-risk areas in existing urban environments and considering these factors in future urban development plans, policymakers can work towards creating healthier and more sustainable cities. The researchers are also planning to analyze blood samples from study participants to understand how external environmental factors impact the body’s metabolism and contribute to the development of asthma.
This study was conducted as part of the EU project EXPANSE, which aims to investigate the impact of individual exposomes on various diseases such as stroke, heart attack, COPD, and diabetes. By understanding how environmental factors influence disease risk, researchers hope to develop targeted interventions to improve public health outcomes.
For more information on this study, you can refer to the publication in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe (DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101314) by Zhebin Yu et al. This research was conducted in collaboration with various research groups and led by Karolinska Institutet, a leading medical university in Sweden.
