Discover Why Tasmania Tops the Charts as the Healthiest Place: A New Index Reveals Environmental Risks and Causes of Death

Researchers at Monash University have created an important new tool: the world’s first index of environmental health risks. Using data from 2016 to 2019, they mapped various locations in Australia to assess local environmental risks and the causes of death associated with them.

The team, part of the Climate, Air Quality Research Unit (CARE), found that Tasmania emerged as the healthiest state in Australia, with Hobart leading as the healthiest capital city. On the other end of the spectrum, the Northern Territory and its capital, Darwin, were identified as the unhealthiest.

Overall, regions in southern, eastern, and southwestern Australia tended to have better health scores than those in the inland and northwest areas. The research illustrates not just where it might be better to live but also highlights the comprehensive model developed by the team to draw these conclusions.

The findings were published in Environment International. The researchers created a new measurement called the Environmental Quality Health Index (EQHI), which uses data from twelve environmental factors along with three types of mortality data to assess health risks tied to environmental conditions.

The twelve factors they analyzed include:

• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
• Ozone (O3)
• Green space (measured by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index)
• Night-time light
• Summer mean temperature
• Winter mean temperature
• Summer temperature variability
• Winter temperature variability
• Relative humidity
• Building density
• Road density
• Socio-economic status

Senior author, Professor Yuming Guo, a distinguished professor at Monash University, emphasizes the importance of this study as a tool to measure environmental conditions and improve health. He suggests that regions with lower health scores need targeted efforts to elevate environmental quality, which can lead to better health outcomes.

The study analyzed 2,180 areas across Australia with an average population of about 10,000 each, which included suburbs, towns, and cities. The research showed that Hobart and Tasmania had lower environmental risks, contributing to their higher health scores. The analysis revealed a decline in the highest EQHI scores (by 6%) from 2016 to 2019; however, over 70% of Australians still lived in high-scoring areas.

Professor Guo noted that while scores improved in Perth and Darwin, they declined in Sydney, Canberra, and Brisbane, while remaining stable in Melbourne and Adelaide. The contrast between Hobart and Darwin was significant, with Hobart scoring exceptionally well while Darwin faced poorer conditions.

The research also highlights broader environmental issues, stating that 24% of global deaths are linked to environmental risk factors like air pollution and climate change. The researchers believe that existing environmental quality assessments often overlook how these different factors interact and the impact of socio-economic status.

Professor Guo advocates for the integration of the EQHI into government policy and public health initiatives. He suggests that by sharing results with policymakers and educating the public, we can effectively improve environmental health outcomes and promote well-being across various regions.

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