title: The impact of green stormwater infrastructure installation on surrounding health and safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the health and safety effects of urban green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) installments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a difference-in-differences analysis of the effects of GSI installments on health (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol and stress levels) and safety (e.g., felonies, nuisance and property crimes, narcotics crimes) outcomes from 2000 to 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We used mixed-effects regression models to compare differences in pre- and posttreatment measures of outcomes for treatment sites (n=52) and randomly chosen, matched control sites (n=186) within multiple geographic extents surrounding GSI sites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression-adjusted models showed consistent and statistically significant reductions in narcotics possession (18%-27% less) within 16th-mile, quarter-mile, half-mile (P<.001), and eighth-mile (P<.01) distances from treatment sites and at the census tract level (P<.01). Narcotics manufacture and burglaries were also significantly reduced at multiple scales. Nonsignificant reductions in homicides, assaults, thefts, public drunkenness, and narcotics sales were associated with GSI installation in at least 1 geographic extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health and safety considerations should be included in future assessments of GSI programs. Subsequent studies should assess mechanisms of this association.
authors.affiliation: Michelle C. Kondo, Sarah C. Low, and Jason Henning are with the US Department of Agriculture-Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Philadelphia, PA. Michelle C. Kondo and Charles C. Branas are also with the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Jason Henning is also with Davey Trees, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henning
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Branas
mesh_terms: D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004323:Drainage, Sanitary / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004779:Environment Design; D006801:Humans; D019368:Nature; D015143:Philadelphia; D010944:Plants; D011891:Rain; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D012722:Sewage; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage