The positive effect of the green environment is greater on middle-aged people than on others.
Living in a greener neighborhood reduces the risk of death, according to a recent Canadian study by researchers at the University of New Brunswick.
The study found that the greater the amount of green space close to houses, the greater the risk of death among people, said Dan L Crouse, the scientist who led the research team.
The study also found that the association between greenness and low mortality remained even after researchers took into account the effects of air pollution.
Crouse said the study used the data of 1.3 million Canadians living in the top 30 cities across Canada for 11 years beginning in 2001. Researchers measured the amount of green space from trees, shrubs, grass and other plants near their homes. The researchers used NASA's Aqua satellite to measure green space.
The study also found that the positive effect of the green environment on people in middle age is greater than that of other age groups.