Environmental exposure at nursing homes. Spatial analysis of air pollution, noise pollution, and vegetation in Sweden

Sammanfattning

With an increasing number of older adults residing in nursing homes, population ageing is a growing demographic concern in Sweden. Residents in these facilities are particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors due to age related physiological decline, increased risk of chronic conditions, and reduced capacity for adaptation. Crucially, as residents of these facilities often have limited mobility and spend majority of their time near their care settings, the surrounding environmental conditions are important for their health and well-being. Despite this, few studies have examined the environmental exposure conditions specific to nursing home locations, and even fewer have done so in an integrated, multi-exposure framework that also accounts for socioeconomic context.This study investigates the spatial relationship between environmental exposures and socioeconomic conditions surrounding nursing homes in Sweden, excluding Gotland. Using nationwide geospatial data combined with socioeconomic statistics, environmental exposures including nitrogen oxides (NOX), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), noise levels (equivalent continuous sound level - LAeq24h), vegetation cover, tree fraction, and building density were calculated within 50, 100, and 300 metre buffers around nursing home locations.The results show the nursing homes are generally located in areas with relatively low levels of PM2.5 and moderate levels of noise exposure, while NOX concentrations vary more substantially across locations. Regression analyses at the municipal level indicate weak positive associations between NOX exposure and mean net income, while PM2.5 show no meaningful relationship with income. Noise exposure displays a similarly weak association with socioeconomic conditions. Vegetation patterns vary spatially but do not exhibit strong linear relationships with income. Overall, the findings suggest limited and inconsistent associations between socioeconomic status and environmental exposures around nursing homes in Sweden.The study demonstrates the usefulness of combining GIS-based environmental exposure modelling with socioeconomic data to assess spatial patterns in environmental conditions relevant to older populations