Coastal water offers unique longevity benefits
A recent study conducted by Ohio State University suggests that living near the ocean may be linked to greater longevity, according to Reuters.
The study analyzed data from over 6,000 areas in the United States, comparing life expectancy based on proximity to bodies of water, CE Report quotes ATA.
Results showed that residents living within roughly 30 kilometers of the ocean or a bay live, on average, one to two years longer than the national average of 79 years.
At the same time, those living near rivers and inland lakes in urban areas may have slightly shorter life expectancy, around 78 years.
Rural residents near water may also benefit somewhat, but not as noticeably as those near the coast.
Scientists explain this difference through various environmental and social factors: cleaner air, cooler summer temperatures, more opportunities for physical activity and recreation, better transportation, and higher income near the coast.
Meanwhile, pollution, poverty, lack of safe opportunities for exercise, and flood risks are factors that can negatively affect life expectancy in inland areas.
The study challenges the idea that any “blue space,” whether lakes or rivers, brings the same health benefits, showing that coastal water offers particular advantages for longevity.
