Beneficial Use Impairments, Degradation of Aesthetics, and Human Health: A Review

Erik D. Slawsky, Joel C. Hoffman, Kristen N. Cowan and Kristen M. Rappazzo
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Erik D. Slawsky: Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Student Services Contractor at US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
Joel C. Hoffman: Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
Kristen N. Cowan: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
Kristen M. Rappazzo: Center for Public Health & Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: In environmental programs and blue/green space development, improving aesthetics is a common goal. There is broad interest in understanding the relationship between ecologically sound environments that people find aesthetically pleasing and human health. However, to date, few studies have adequately assessed this relationship, and no summaries or reviews of this line of research exist. Therefore, we undertook a systematic literature review to determine the state of science and identify critical needs to advance the field. Keywords identified from both aesthetics and loss of habitat literature were searched in PubMed and Web of Science databases. After full text screening, 19 studies were included in the review. Most of these studies examined some measure of greenspace/bluespace, primarily proximity. Only one study investigated the impacts of making space quality changes on a health metric. The studies identified for this review continue to support links between green space and various metrics of health, with additional evidence for blue space benefits on health. No studies to date adequately address questions surrounding the beneficial use impairment degradation of aesthetics and how improving either environmental quality (remediation) or ecological health (restoration) efforts have impacted the health of those communities.

Keywords: beneficial use impairments; Great Lakes; green/bluespace; aesthetic degradation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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