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At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The incidence of prenatal syphilis at the Boston City Hospital: a comparison across four decades.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence and epidemiologic correlates of congenital syphilis at an inner-city Boston hospital, and draw comparisons with the situation at the same hospital 40 years ago. DESIGN: Chart review and comparison with data collected in 1951. SETTING: Maternity and pediatric services at Boston City Hospital. METHODS: A study conducted in 1951 on the maternity service of Boston City Hospital in which demographic data were collected on all women admitted in labor over a 5-month period was replicated. Serologic testing for syphilis was carried out on these women, and the demographic and medical correlates of positive maternal syphilis serology were examined. This study was repeated exactly 40 years later, using the cord blood screening for syphilis done routinely at delivery and a review of prenatal records. RESULTS: From a group made up largely of married white women in 1951, the study population shifted in 1991 to a group made up mostly of minority women, with 75% unmarried. In 1951, 24 patients were diagnosed with syphilis either before or during the pregnancy, giving a prevalence rate of 2.4%. In 1991, 25 of 647 women were diagnosed with syphilis, for a prevalence rate of 3.9%. The women with positive cord blood serologies had a higher rate of other sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse. No symptomatic cases of congenital syphilis were seen in 1951 or in 1991, although at least 11 of the 26 infants born to mothers with positive serologies in 1991 received intravenous penicillin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The continued prevalence of diagnosed syphilis in women at delivery reflects an inner-city epidemic of congenital syphilis that is tied to substance abuse, human immunodeficiency virus, and changing social patterns, as well to older problems of serologic screening, prenatal care, treatment failures, and maternal reinfection. It is essential that screening programs be maintained and improved in this high-risk population, and that infants born to mothers with positive serologies receive full and adequate treatment if there is any doubt at all about their infection status.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Schizophrenia and city residence.

It has long been thought that rates of mental illness are higher in cities than elsewhere, because of crowding and resultant stress. In the case of schizophrenia, there are some marked exceptions to generally higher prevalence rates in industrialised cities. Factors such as migration, culture, infectious disease, demographic rates, and other social processes may affect geographical differences in rates. The excess of schizophrenia in central city areas has been given two opposing explanations--the 'breeder' hypothesis and 'social drift'. Data on incidence from three cities are compared, but do not reveal a clear common picture. Environmental factors connected with urban living are of two main types--social and non-social--which are not mutually exclusive; 'urban' may also have a variety of meanings. Rather than 'urbanicity' being an independent aetiological factor in schizophrenia, its effect may be largely explained in terms of migration and social class.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1994

[Health status, social networks and support systems of elderly men and women in a large city and in former coal-mining areas--a population-based comparative study of 70-year-old residents of Sapporo and Yubari].

In order to analyze the different features of the social network, social support system and health status of elderly people, a survey was performed of the social environment and health related issues among 70 year-old men and women in Sapporo, a large city, and Yubari, a small city which has experienced coal mine closures, both in Hokkaido prefecture. The results were as follows: 1. In Yubari, the health status of the elderly living alone was better than those with other familial categories such as living with their spouse, or with the families of their children. In contrast, the status of the elderly living alone in Sapporo was worse than the others. The mean numbers of out-patient visits and hospital admissions during the previous one year were higher among elderly people living alone in both areas. 2. There were large differences in social support and social network in the two areas and among the living status of the elderly. In particular, persons living alone in Sapporo had statistically significantly lower amount of support than others. Elderly people in Sapporo had fewer contacts with their neighbors and only a small number of them participated in community-based social associations compared with the same age groups in the city of Yubari. 3. An extremely small number of the elderly were provided formal support from official personnel such as public health nurses, district welfare commissioners and so on. The results of this study suggest the need for more formal and informal networks to provide for social support for those elderly men and women living alone in large cities.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

Parents' knowledge of respiratory disease: A comparison of inner-city and suburban parents.

The difference in knowledge of common diseases between inner-city parents and suburban parents may be even greater than generally thought. Measuring this difference should serve to emphasize the general neglect of the subject of parent (or patient) education in medical schools, residency programs, and in pediatric texts and journals. The present study of parents' knowledge of respiratory disease shows that inner-city parents scored 20 points lower than suburban parents (67% vs. 87%). In the inner-city group Spanish-American parents scored 11 points lower than non-Spanish-American parents (61% vs. 72%). Thus, the urgent need for better health education, especially in the inner city, is emphasized. Several basic reviews of articles on health education show clearly that this subject is very complex and poorly understood by many investigators. Adequate controls are hard to establish, and long-term benefits are hard to prove. Hospitals are reluctant to spend additional funds on health education unless a convincing cost-benefit relationship can be shown. However, the costs of ignoring the problems of health education are probably much greater than the costs of conducting a well-organized program.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Comparison of Enterobius vermicularis infection among preschool children in Ta-Liao District of Kaohsiung County with that in Kaohsiung City].

To compare the rate of E. vermicularis infection among preschool children in Ta-Liao District of Kaohsiung County, with that in Kaohsiung City, a total of 532 preschool children from 7 kindergartens in Ta-Liao District, Kaohsiung County and 544 preschool children from Kaohsiung City kindergartens were randomly collected. The preschool children were examined for E. vermicularis infection with a scotch tape perianal swab technique (S.T.P.S.T.). After examination, the preschool childrens' parents were also interviewed. The interview included the following factors: personal data of the preschool children (age, sex and birthplace); the size of the living quarters (measured in "Ping") and the number of rooms in the living quarters; the play area floor material (e.g. carpet, wood, tile, etc.); the total number of family members; the distribution of family members in bedrooms; the frequency of finger-sucking and the frequency of hand-washing before eating meals and after using toilets; the preschool childrens' primary caregiver; the occupations of both parents; and the means and times of bathing. The obtained data were analyzed and E. vermicularis infection among the preschool children in Ta-Liao District and Kaohsiung City were compared using the Mantel-Haenszel statistical program in Statistical Analysis System (S.A.S) software. The present results indicated that the rate of E. vermicularis infection among preschool children was higher in Ta-Liao District than in Kaohsiung City.

Child↗
PubMed1993

HIV infection as leading cause of death among young adults in US cities and states.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the extent to which human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has become the leading cause of death among young adults (25 to 44 years of age) in US states and cities of at least 100,000 population. DESIGN: Analysis of underlying causes of death using national vital statistics for 1990 by state and city. Deaths caused by HIV were defined as those with underlying cause assigned a code number of 042, 043, or 044, as established by the National Center for Health Statistics. RESULTS: Infection with HIV was the leading cause of death among young men in five states, causing 29% of their deaths in New York, 28% in New Jersey, 24% in California and Florida, and 16% in Massachusetts. Among young women, HIV was not the leading cause of death in any state. Among young men, HIV infection was the leading cause of death in 64 cities, with the proportion of deaths due to HIV ranging from 16% in Bridgeport, Conn, to 61% in San Francisco, Calif. Among young women, HIV infection was the leading cause of death in nine cities, with the proportion of deaths due to HIV ranging from 15% in Baltimore, Md, to 43% in Newark, NJ. CONCLUSION: In many US communities, HIV infection is the leading cause of death among young men and women, causing a large proportion of deaths in this age group.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Outbreak of primary and secondary syphilis--Baltimore City, Maryland, 1995.

From 1993 to 1995, the number of primary and secondary syphilis cases reported in Baltimore City (1990 population: 736,014) increased 97%, from 179 to 352 cases per year (Figure 1). To identify potential reasons for this increase, CDC, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, analyzed data about primary and secondary syphilis cases during 1992-1995 and about temporal trends in factors that may affect syphilis rates (e.g., partner-notification results, access to medical care, and community illicit-drug use). In addition, data were analyzed from the two public sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Baltimore City. BCHD collects demographic data for all cases of reported syphilis among patients who reside in Baltimore City and attempts to interview and provide partner notification and treatment for these patients. This report summarizes the results of the analysis, which suggest the outbreak has been associated with decreases in partner notification and health department clinical services and a substantial increase in community cocaine use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Possible effect of air pollutants (Mexico City) on superoxide dismutase activity and serum lipoperoxides in the human adult.

The action of air pollutants, through their constituents, (O3, NO2, tobacco smoke) are capable of causing damage due to their lipoperoxidative properties or, indirectly, by inducing production of free radicals. As a consequence of photochemical processes, the ozone levels in the atmosphere of Mexico City are generally higher (mean of 0.325 ppm; period between 1987-1992) and may be harmful to health. Sixty two volunteers (medical doctors), aged 27-32 years, were divided into three groups. Group A was composed of those persons (17) who had never lived in Mexico City; a second group (B) (21) had recently arrived in Mexico City (1-8 days); and a third group (C) (24) who had permanently resided in Mexico City. Serum was obtained from fresh whole blood. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and thiobarbituric acid-reactive materials were higher in group B while chromolipids and the serum inhibitory capacity (for lipoperoxidation) was higher in group C. The acute exposure to pollutants in group B apparently may have induced SOD as an antioxidant defense and was responsible for the increased level of TBA reactive material. In group C, the significant finding is better antioxidative defenses and slightly higher chromolipids.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Ozone exposure and daily mortality in Mexico City: a time-series analysis.

Daily death counts in Mexico City were examined in relation to ambient ozone levels during 1990-1992 for the purpose of investigating the acute, irreversible effects of air pollution, with emphasis on ozone exposure. Air pollution data were obtained from nine monitoring stations operated by the Departamento del Distrito Federal. Mortality data were provided by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía, e Informática. Increases in numbers of deaths were positively associated with elevated air pollution levels on the same day and on the previous day. The magnitude of the increases was small but statistically significant, after Poisson regression models were used to adjust for temperature and long-term trends. In models using data for a single pollutant, the "crude" ratio for total mortality associated with an increase of 100 parts per billion (ppb)* in one-hour maximum ozone concentration was 1.029 (95% CI 1.015, 1.044). A moving average of ozone showed a stronger association (rate ratio [RR] = 1.048, 95% CI 1.025, 1.070), and excess mortality (an increase in the number of deaths, relative to the average on days with low pollution levels) was more evident for persons over 65 years of age. Separate analyses of the effect of elevated ozone for different areas of the city showed similar results, but they were not statistically significant. Other pollutants also were related to mortality. The RR was 1.075 (95% CI 0.984, 1.062) per 100-ppb increase for sulfur dioxide and 1.049 (95% CI 1.030, 1.067) per 100 micrograms/m3 increase in total suspended particulates (TSP) when these pollutants were considered in separate models. However, when all three pollutants were considered simultaneously, only TSP remained associated with mortality, indicating excess mortality of 5% per 100 micrograms/m3 increase [RR = 1.052, 95% CI 1.034, 1.072]. The excess mortality associated with TSP is consistent with that observed in other cities in America and Europe. This study provides some evidence that ozone is associated with all-cause mortality and with mortality among the elderly after controlling for long-term cycles. However, ozone levels exhibited little or no effect on mortality rates when other air pollutants were considered simultaneously. Particulate matter appeared to be an important pollutant; it independently predicted changes in mortality. Nevertheless, because of the complexity and variability of the mixtures to which people are exposed, it is difficult to attribute the observed effects to a single pollutant. The technical feasibility and scientific validity of isolating the effect of single pollutants in such complex mixtures requires further research and careful consideration. Given the large population living in and exposed to ambient air pollution in Mexico City and other metropolises throughout the world, these small but significant associations of mortality with air pollution indices are of public health concern.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of hypertension and sociodemographic characteristics of adult hypertensives in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension in adults residing in Riyadh city and to study the sociodemographic characteristics of adult hypertensives. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs) in Riyadh city selected by stratified random sampling, the subjects resident in each PHCC catchment area were selected by systematic sampling from their records in the PHCCs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1394 adults aged 15 years and over were interviewed and examined during March 1993 to March 1994. The average of three measurements of blood pressure (BP) was taken to represent their current pressures. A subject is considered hypertensive if the average BP reading is 160/95 mm Hg or more, or is currently under treatment. RESULTS: The total hypertensive subjects were 214 giving an overall prevalence of hypertension of 15.4%. Of these 157 (11.3%) subjects were known hypertensives and were under some form of treatment. On the other hand 57 (4.1%) other subjects were newly detected by the study. Hypertension (BP = 160/95 mm Hg or more) was significantly related to age, marriage, education, occupation and employment status and consanguinity. Male subjects had a higher prevalence of hypertension but the differences were not significant. Nationality and income were not related to high BP. CONCLUSION: Hypertension is a problem among adults in Riyadh city. It is significantly related to some sociodemographic and family factors. About 27% of all hypertensives are not aware of their disease and more than 31% of known hypertensives are apparently not well controlled. There is a need for a programme to prevent and control hypertension in Riyadh city. Similar studies need to be done in other areas of the country to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and associated factors as prerequisites for any programme to control the disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Environmental and health monitoring in Lithuanian cities: exposure to heavy metals and benz(a)pyrene in Vilnius and Siauliai residents.

The Environmental and Health Monitoring program in the large cities of Lithuania is aimed at the evaluation of the population health status in terms of chemically induced diseases. During the 1991 to 1995 period, this program was carried out in two Lithuanian cities, Vilnius, the capital of the country, and Siauliai. Data on the chemical pollution of ambient air, soil, and drinking water and the morbidity were mapped. Risk zones of environmental pathology threat were defined within each city on the basis of the mapped data. Subsequently, chemical pollutants, namely, heavy metals and benz(a)pyrene, were determined in the biomedia of selected population groups in the risk zones. Exposure analysis of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Zn) and benz(a)pyrene was carried out for standardized groups of children and pregnant women in the risk zones and in a relatively safe (control) zone. The evaluation of exposure to heavy metals was based on the levels found in blood, urine, and hair. Benz(a)pyrene was tested in urine samples. The obtained data are applied in the process of environmental health monitoring in the large cities of Lithuania.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗
PubMed1998

[Community health reporting exemplified by the city of Nürnberg].

Taking the example of Nuremberg, a city of half a million inhabitants, the article illustrates how, despite very restricted resources, the local public health department was able to establish a series of health reports dealing with different topics. Treatment of a number of topics was only possible through cooperation with the local university. Initially two health reports were produced on a regional basis for the purpose of supporting health promotion in particular areas of the city. Whereas the first report attempts to give a comprehensive picture of health relevant living conditions in a certain area, the second report concentrates on an analysis of the situation of children and young people in a different part of the city. Another area of concern deals with the gathering of specific health related data. The data from a pediatric health sentinel in Nuremberg were combined with data on climate and air pollution in the years 1995 and 1996. Various dissertation topics were useful in the analysis of everyday public health data. Most of these results have been published in a separate reader. They include an analysis of the reports regarding pregnancy counciling, standardised reports of the HIV antibody tests as well as an analysis of the causes of infant mortality based on death certificates. Finally, a comparative study of basic health data from various cities is in progress. It is hoped that this will offer a basis for an evaluation of the health situation in Nuremberg.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Rapid assessment of the drug-injecting situation at Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

This paper describes a rapid assessment of the drug-injecting situation in Viet Nam. The study, which was carried out over a five-week period during October and November 1993, focused on the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. A multi-indicator inductive methodology was adopted that mixed qualitative and quantitative measures. As only limited background epidemiologic and official statistics were available, the study involved the generation of original data, through, for example, the construction of "cognitive maps" describing broad patterns of drug use, semi-structured interviews (for the collection of baseline data), focus groups, in-depth interviews and ethnographic observations. The study revealed that the injection of "blackwater" opium proliferated, often in combination with a range of pharmaceutical preparations. High-risk injecting practices were common at both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, drug scenes and congregation sites being more public and visible at Ho Chi Minh City. The implications for policy and practice are discussed, emphasis being placed on the need for outreach and peer intervention.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

TSP, PM10 and PM10/TSP ratios in the Mexico City Metropolitan area: a temporal and spatial approach.

Data for PM10 and TSP collected from SEDUE's (Secretary of Urban Development and Ecology) five principal air monitoring stations from March of 1988 to March of 1989 were analyzed with an emphasis on spatial and temporal distributions. The Mexico City sites consisted of a mixed residential and industrial setting in the NW, a highly industrialized area in the NE, the commercial and administrative district downtown, and areas in the SW and SE dominated by residential neighborhoods. High volume samplers for TSP and PM10 running in parallel were used following a protocol similar to the one specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The individual data collected ranged from 24 to 1494 micrograms/m-3 for TSP and from 17 to 607 micrograms/m-3 for PM10. The PM10-to-TSP ratios ranged from 0.104 to 0.914 for a one year period, 0.495 being the overall mean ratio. Seasonal and geographical differences in this ratio may reflect the range of sources, transport and transformations of primary and secondary particles. High concentrations of particles were found during the winter and early spring, followed by relatively low concentrations during the summer. Statistically significant differences were found for the two most contrasting sites, the NE and SW areas of the city. The northern and eastern parts were the most impacted by particulate matter, while the area at the southwestern edge of the city was least polluted by fine and total suspended particles. Two interesting observations have emerged from this analysis. First, there is the exceedingly high daily and annual values for both TSP and PM10, relative to the Mexican and U.S. standards and WHO criteria for particulate matter. Second, although the SW area of Mexico City had the lowest fine suspended particle concentrations, it is in this area that the highest concentrations of ozone have been observed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pollen calendar of the city of Salamanca (Spain). Aeropalynological analysis for 1981-1982 and 1991-1992.

We report a study on the contents of airborne pollen in the city of Salamanca (Spain) aimed at establishing a pollen calendar for the city for the yearly periods of maximum concentrations, relating these with quantifiable atmospheric variables over two two-year periods with an interval of 10 years between them: 1981-82 and 1991-92. The pollen was captured with Burkard spore-traps, based on Hirst's volumetric method. Determinations were made daily and were used to make preparations, previously stained with basic fuscin, for study under light microscopy at x 1,000 magnification. 946 preparations were analyzed, corresponding to the same number of days distributed over 150 weeks of the periods studied. The results afforded the identification of 48 different types of pollen grain: Grasses (Poaceae), Olea europea (olive), Quercus rotundifolia (Holm-oak), other Quercus spp. (Q. pyrenaica, Q. suber, Q. faginea, etc.), Cupressaceae (Cupressus sempervivens, C. arizonica, Juniperus communis etc.), Plantago (Plantago lanceolata, Plantago media, etc.), Pinaceae (Pinus communis, Abies alba, etc.), Rumex sp. (osier), Urtica dioica (nettle), Parietaria (Parietaria officinalis, P. judaica), Chenopodio-Amaranthaceae (Chenopodium sp., Amaranthus sp., Salsola kali, etc.), Artemisia vulgaris (Artemisia), other Compositae (Taraxacum officinalis, Hellianthus sp. etc.), Castanea sativa (Chestnut), Ligustrum sp. (privet), Betula sp. (birch), Alnus sp. (common alder), Fraxinus sp (ash), Populus sp. (poplar), Salix sp. (willow), Ulmus sp. (elm), Platanus sp. (plantain, plane), Carex sp. (sweet flag), Erica sp. (common heather), Leguminosae or Fabaceae:--Papillionaceae (Medicago sp.; Cercis sp., Robina sp.)--Cesalpinoideae Acacia sp. (Acacia),--Mimosoideae: Sophora japonica, Umbelliferae (Foeniculum sp., Cirsium sp., etc.), Centaurea sp., Cistus sp. (rock rose), Typha sp (bulrush), Mirtaceae (Myrtus communis), Juglans regia (Walnut), Galium verum, Filipendula sp. (spirea/drop wort), Rosaceae (Pyrus sp., Prunus sp., etc.), Tilia sp. (Linden), Morus sp. (mulberry), Taxus baccata (yew), Papaveraceae (Papaver rhoeas etc.), Labiata (Lavandula sp.), Cannabaceae (Humulus sp. etc.), Liliaceae (Lilium sp.), Echium sp. (viper's bugloss). The most abundant taxa, detected in the highest quantities (grains/m3 air), by order of counting were as follows: holm-oak, olive, grasses, Plantago and Parietaria. With the data obtained we have established a pollen calendar for Salamanca and report the period in which each type of pollen is found along the years and the periods with the highest airborne concentrations of such pollens. The diversity and the spectrum of the pollen in the city of Salamanca correspond to the typical plant communities found on the dehesas (large ranges of grasslands) of Castile, where Salamanca is located, although the wind directions and the peculiar climatic characteristics of the area govern the peaks of maximum presence of the different taxa. As examples, in the case of olive, which is cultivated at some distance from the city, its maximum presence coincides with south-westerly winds; in the case of grasses, the peaks of maximum counts coincide with a sharp rise in mean temperature, close to or higher than 20 degrees C and between five and six weeks after rainfall equal to or greater than 5 L/m2.

Air↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of domestic violence in the city of Durango].

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and determine the prevalence of the different types of gender-associated violence in the city of Durango, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: With a transversal design, 384 women residents of the city of Durango, either living with or having lived with someone before, were interviewed. The sample was proportionately distributed in 6 city sectors which were randomly chosen and representative of the high middle and low socioeconomic levels. Sixty-four interviews were conducted in each city sector. The questionnaire consisted of 184 closed and 22 open questions, including identification, sociodemographic and reproductive data, as well as specific questions on physical, emotional and sexual violence. RESULTS: Median age of the studied group was 41.5 years, ranging from 12 to 48 years. Prevalence of domestic violence was: sexual 42%; physical 40%; emotional 39%. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of violence, in its different forms, is a highly prevalent factor which jeopardizes the welfare of the family nucleus. Higher prevalence values of domestic violence were detected in the presence of factors such as violence antecedents, alcoholism and/or drug consumption by some member of the family.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A comparative study of the evolution of atherosclerosis in men over a 25-year period in 11 European and Asiatic cities].

Repeated epidemiologic study of atherosclerosis in males on the basis of autopsy material with 25-year interval (1963-66 and 1985-89) has been performed in 7 European cities (Malmö, Praha, Riga, Tallinn, Tartu, Kharkov, Yalta) and 4 Asia cities (Ashkhabad, Bishkek, Irkutsk, Yakutsk). Accelerated development of atherosclerosis in the 2nd study has been revealed in males in the majority of cities except Malmö and Praha. No significant differences in atherosclerosis of aorta and coronary arteries were found in these two cities. An increase of the calcinosis surface in the coronary arteries combined with a higher incidence of coronary stenosis was typical for the 2nd study. Atherosclerosis was less pronounced in the indigenous population of Ashkhabad, Bishkek and Yakutsk in both studied than in non-indigenous populations. There was a positive correlation in males between lethality of coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases and the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. Thus, the course of atherosclerosis can change within the life of one generation.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The influence of urban design on outdoor thermal comfort in the hot, humid city of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The outdoor environment is deteriorating in many tropical cities due to rapid urbanization. This leads to a number of problems related to health and well-being of humans and also negatively affects social and commercial outdoor activities. The creation of thermally comfortable microclimates in urban environments is therefore very important. This paper discusses the influence of street-canyon geometry on outdoor thermal comfort in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Five sites with different urban geometry, ground cover, and distance from the sea were studied during the warmest season. The environmental parameters affecting thermal comfort, viz. air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation, were measured, and the thermal comfort was estimated by calculating the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET). The thermal comfort is far above the assumed comfort zone due to the combination of intense solar radiation, high temperatures, and low wind speeds, especially on clear days. The worst conditions were found in wide streets with low-rise buildings and no shade trees. The most comfortable conditions were found in narrow streets with tall buildings, especially if shade trees were present, as well as in areas near the coast where the sea breeze had a positive effect. In order to improve the outdoor comfort in Colombo, it is suggested to allow a more compact urban form with deeper street canyons and to provide additional shade through the use of trees, covered walkways, pedestrian arcades, etc. The opening up of the city's coastal strip would allow the sea breeze to penetrate further into the city.

Cities↗