Life by a park helps young lungs

CHILDREN who move closer to green spaces are more likely to have better lung function, according to a study.

Researchers said their findings supported the idea of families favouring greener areas but also highlighted the need to create more parks in urban areas.

The study involved 3,278 children in the Portuguese city of Porto. Researchers examined the nearest green spaces to the youngsters when they were born and again when they were aged four, seven and ten.

Published in the European Respiratory Journal, the study found that children whose surroundings became ‘greener’ – through house moves or other changes – had stronger lungs.

‘Our research suggests the greener, the better,’ said Dr Diogo Queiroz Almeida of Porto University.