Sustainable Resource
UK’s first high-detail atlas links
local environment to health
Map takes in factors from sunshine duration to air pollution to flag up disparities
By Stuart Qualtrough
R esearchers have launched
the UK’s first detailed
atlas linking environment
and health maps at a fine scale
across England and Wales.
Produced by the UK Small Area
Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU), part
of the MRC-PHE Centre for
Environment & Health based at
Imperial College London, the openaccess atlas allows researchers,
policymakers and members of the
public to study the geographical
pattern of 14 diseases and
conditions such as lung cancer,
breast cancer, heart disease,
leukaemia and low birth weight.
Alongside this it provides maps of
geographical variations of selected
environmental agents such as air
pollution, sunshine and pesticides.
Simply comparing the health
and environment maps will not
enable people to conclude there is
Atlas links health risk with the envionment for the first time in the UK
a causal link between a specific
environmental agent and a health
condition, but it can highlight areas
for future research. For example,
the atlas shows that skin cancer risk
is greatest in southwest England
even though sunshine duration is
highest in southeast England. This
could trigger further research into
behavioural differences between
the areas to explain this variation.
This atlas is the first in the UK to
adjust for both age and deprivation
as well as making statistical
allowance if numbers of cases are
very small. Looking across all health
conditions there are 33 wards that
show more consistent patterns of
lower relative health risks compared
to only eight at the higher end of
health risk. Those areas that appear
to have the lowest relative risk are in
central London, North Norfolk, parts
of Suffolk, and Brighton & Hove. The
areas with the higher relative risk
tend to be in the North West, parts
of Yorkshire and South Wales.
Some conditions show a lot of
geographical variation that can’t
be explained by deprivation or
ageing. Examples are lung, skin and
liver cancers, chronic pulmonary
disease and mesothelioma (a
cancer caused by exposure to
asbestos). In particular the risks for
respiratory problems, such as lung
cancer and chronic pulmonary
disease, are worse in urban areas.
Risks of heart disease mortality are
predominantly higher in the north
of the country.
However, the relative risks of
breast cancer, prostate cancer,
leukaemia, brain cancer, still births
and low birth weight are more
similar across Wales and England.
Sustainable Energy
Solar farms could create biodiversity hotspots,
benefiting British wildlife for decades
By Stuart Qualtrough
Solar farms could become
havens for plants and wildlife
and help reverse declining
numbers of bumblebees,
following the publication of
new industry guidelines to
support biodiversity.
The expert guidance on how
to boost nature on solar farms
was launched this week by
the BRE National Solar Centre
(BRE NSC). The guidance has
been authored by ecologist
Dr Guy Parker in partnership
with leading UK conservation
groups and the Solar Trade
Association (STA).
Solar farms typically take up
less than 5% of the land they
are on, leaving huge scope to
Report helps solar support nature
develop protected habitats to
support local wildlife and plant
life. Many species benefit from
the diversity of light and shade
that the solar arrays provide,
including bumblebees.
The 12-page report states:
“Solar farms present an excellent
opportunity for biodiversity. In
most solar farms panels are set
on piles and there is minimal
disturbance to the ground. The
panels generally have no
moving parts.
“Normally only 25-40% of the
surface is over-sailed by panels.
Because panels are raised above
the ground on posts, more than
95% of the field is still accessible
for plant growth and potentially
for wildlife enhancements and
in some cases complementary
agricultural activities such as
conservation grazing.
“Following construction, there
is little human activity apart
from occasional maintenance
visits. Most sites have a lifespan
of at least 20 years which is
sufficient time for appropriate
land management to yield real
wildlife benefits.
“A number of options exist for
enhancing biodiversity on solar
farms, from hedgerows to field
margins to wild flower
meadows to bird boxes and
ponds. Each site is unique and
there is no ‘one size fits all’
solution. Ultimately the best
plans will be those developed
through engagement with the
local community, the landowner
and local and national
conservation organisations.”
Jonny Williams, Associate
Director of the B I