Yun-Ting Yen, MS, will present "Examining the relationship between residential greenspace and pediatric asthma exacerbations in the Philadelphia metropolitan area."

Greenspace, a characteristic of the built environment that has been shown to be beneficial to human health, may help prevent asthma exacerbations by mitigating air pollution, moderating temperatures, and reducing stress. In some cases, however, trees and grasses may emit allergenic pollen and exacerbate asthma symptoms. Considering that there may be opposing directions for the effect of greenspace on asthma exacerbations, it is necessary to determine the net impact of greenspace and disentangle the mechanisms through which environmental factors (e.g., air pollution) may be at play.

As asthma exacerbations vary across Philadelphia, it is crucial to investigate whether spatial patterns in greenspace are related to variations in asthma exacerbations.

Exacerbations of asthma adversely affect a child's quality of life and increase healthcare costs. This study aims to clarify the relationship between greenspace and childhood asthma exacerbations and to inform effective environmental interventions.

Committee Members: Anneclaire De Roos, Chen Kenyon, Michelle Kondo, Leah Schinasi, and Brisa Sanchez

For Zoom link and password contact Carolyn Jackson at cj379@drexel.edu.