residents can be particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution, so it is important to consider the location of new care homes. The University of Surrey study suggests that building these homes away from heavy traffic and planting trees as a barrier can help reduce the impact of air pollution on the elderly residents.”
Adults in care facilities are particularly at risk of being affected by poor air quality. According to our research, placing care homes near busy roads without sufficient trees can significantly increase their exposure to harmful fine particle pollution.
The lead researcher stated, “We hope that city planners will take our findings into consideration to ensure that care homes are constructed in safer areas, where there is a balance between urban convenience and clean air.”
The study focused on three care homes in Nanjing, China, where researchers measured PM2.5 levels in and around the facilities.
They discovered that the proximity to busy roads without trees resulted in a significant increase in fine particle pollution exposure for the residents.The amount of pollution inside the care home decreased significantly the further it was from the road. Huaiwen Wu, a researcher at GCARE, explained that the study provides valuable insights into ideal locations for new care homes. For example, the study found a strong correlation between outdoor and indoor pollution, suggesting that bedrooms should be situated as far as possible from the road. Professor Shi-Jie Cao, a Visiting Professor at GCARE and Professor at Southeast University, China, also noted that pollution levels were highest during rush hour.The levels of air pollution increased when the wind was not as strong, and also during the colder months when more individuals were using their heating systems. This means that care homes located near busy roads may need to keep their windows closed more frequently during these times, and then open them afterward to reduce the buildup of harmful emissions. The findings of this research can be found in the journal Atmospheric Environment.
