Land-use change and health risks in the process of urbanization: A spatiotemporal interpretation of a typical case in changzhou, china

Abstract

China has undergone rapid urban expansion in recent decades. At the same time, environmental pollution and its risk to public health have increased. However, the relationship between urban land-use changes and health is ambiguous and insufficiently understood. Based on a typical city-scale case—namely, Changzhou, China—this research aimed to interpret the evolution of health risks alongside land-use change during the process of urbanization. We gathered data from multiple sources, including population mortality data, socioeconomic data, remote-sensing images, data for the points of interest of enterprises, and relevant information on environmental health events and cancers. The results showed that Changzhou’s urbanization was typical insofar as it was characterized by massive growth in industry, a rapid increase in the urban population, and urban land expansion. Health risks related to environmental pollution increased considerably with urban land expansion over time, and they increased with proximity to the pollution. The results from a generalized linear model confirmed that Changzhou’s urbanization triggered increasing health risks. Our study interpreted the relationship between urban land expansion and health risks from a spatiotemporal perspective. It can be used as a reference for urban planning and policymaking with regard to urban environmental health.