A Green World Is A Healthy World

Air pollution, stress, and fast-food consumption are familiar hallmarks of modern life whose complete impact remains to be fully understood. It's increasingly evident, however, that residing in greener environments may offer physiological and psychological benefits. The degree of 'greenness' in a particular area can be quantified using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). This index, derived from satellite sensor data measuring electromagnetic radiation, reflects the density and vitality of vegetation cover. In an article published in Science of the Total Environment, Dr. Keren Agay-Shay and her team conducted a comprehensive 21-year investigation involving 977,644 participants from Israel. The research aimed to explore the correlation between residual greenness, as measured by NDVI, and cancer occurrence. The findings revealed a noteworthy correlation; individuals residing in areas with greater green coverage demonstrated a reduced risk for all types of cancer. This discovery suggests a promising avenue for public health interventions aimed at mitigating cancer incidences within the population.