Key Questions Answered
Q: Does living near water improve life expectancy?
A: Yes—but only for those living within 30 miles of a coastline. People in coastal areas tend to live longer than the national average, while those in urban areas near inland rivers or lakes may live slightly shorter lives.
Q: Why is the ocean different from inland water?
A: Coastal areas offer milder temperatures, better air quality, more recreation, and higher income—all of which support longevity. In contrast, inland urban waterways are often linked to pollution, poverty, and flood risks.
Q: Are rural areas near water any different?
A: Rural residents near water appear to gain some health and lifespan benefits, though not as consistently as coastal dwellers.
Summary: A new study shows that living near the ocean may be linked to a longer life—while living near inland rivers or lakes in urban areas may actually shorten it. Researchers analyzed data from over 66,000 U.S. census tracts and found coastal residents live, on average, at least a year longer than the national average.
Benefits may be tied to cleaner air, better weather, and increased physical activity near coastlines, while inland water areas—especially in cities—were associated with pollution, poverty, and increased health risks. The findings suggest not all “blue spaces” are equal when it comes to your lifespan.
Key Facts:
- Longevity Boost: Coastal residents may live one year longer than the U.S. average.
- Urban Inland Risk: City dwellers near rivers or lakes may have lower life expectancy.
- Environmental Divide: Air quality, temperature, and socioeconomic conditions likely explain the difference.
Source: Ohio State University
Living within miles of the ocean breeze may be linked to a longer life, but you shouldn’t count on the same benefits if you live in a riverside city, suggests a recent study.
Researchers from The Ohio State University analyzed population data — including life expectancy — in more than 66,000 census tracts throughout the U.S. and compared it based on proximity to waterways.
Their study was published online in the journal Environmental Research.
A correlation between longer life expectancy and water was clear for those who live within about 30 miles of an ocean or gulf. But for those who live in urban settings and near an inland body of water larger than 4 square miles, the opposite was true.
Rural residents who live near water may also reap some lifespan advantages, according to the research.
“Overall, the coastal residents were expected to live a year or more longer than the 79-year average, and those who lived in more urban areas near inland rivers and lakes were likely to die by about 78 or so. The coastal residents probably live longer due to a variety of intertwined factors,” said lead researcher Jianyong “Jamie” Wu.
The analysis suggested that milder temperatures, better air quality, more opportunities for recreation, better transportation, less susceptibility to drought, and higher incomes could all be contributors to a better outlook for coastal residents compared to those who live inland.
“On the other side, pollution, poverty, lack of safe opportunities to be physically active and an increased risk of flooding are likely drivers of these differences,” said Yanni Cao, a postdoctoral researcher who worked on the study.
The most critical difference the researchers found is that coastal areas experience fewer hot days and lower maximum temperatures compared to inland water areas.
Previous research has found a connection between living near water and better health measures, including higher physical activity levels, lower obesity rates and improved heart health.
That prompted Wu to wonder if there could be a link between “blue space” living and longer lives, and how that relationship might differ depending on the type of neighborhood people call home, he said.
“We thought it was possible that any type of ‘blue space’ would offer some beneficial effects, and we were surprised to find such a significant and clear difference between those who live near coastal waters and those who live near inland waters,” said Wu, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at The Ohio State University College of Public Health.
“We found a clear difference — in coastal areas, people are living longer,” said Wu, adding that the study is the first to comprehensively and systematically examine the relationship between various types of “blue space” and longevity in the U.S.
Cao said she was especially curious about how this data might provide insights into the trends in life expectancy in the U.S. compared to other wealthy nations. In the past several years, the U.S. experienced a sharper decline and a slower rebound in life expectancy than peer countries.
“It’s likely that various social determinants of health, including complex environmental factors, that contribute to health inequities are playing a key role in the differences we saw,” she said.
Ria Martins, a graduate student in public health, was also a co-author.
About this longevity and neuroscience research news
Author: Misti Crane
Source: Ohio State University
Contact: Misti Crane – Ohio State University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Unveiling complexity in blue spaces and life expectancy” by Jianyong “Jamie” Wu et al. Environmental Research
Abstract
Unveiling complexity in blue spaces and life expectancy
Although growing evidence supports the positive impact of blue spaces on human health, research on their association with life expectancy remains limited.
This study examines the association between coastal and inland waters and life expectancy across 66,263 census tracts in the United States, incorporating socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic factors through multiple linear and multi-level regression as well as spatial regression models, supplemented by sensitivity analyses.
Our findings indicate that proximity to coastal waters is positively associated with life expectancy, whereas proximity to inland waters is negatively associated. We used the mutual information model to identify key factors contributing to these differences.
Through a comparative analysis of coastal and inland water environments, we found that longer life expectancy near coastal waters may be linked to more favorable environmental and socioeconomic conditions.
These include milder temperatures, better air quality, enhanced recreational opportunities, improved transportation, lower drought susceptibility, and higher income levels.
The urban–rural analysis further reveals that proximity to coastal waters is positively associated with life expectancy in both settings, whereas inland waters show differing associations, being negative in urban areas and positive in rural areas.
In addition to examining these blue space patterns, this study also considers broader socioeconomic and environmental factors related to life expectancy.
These findings highlight the importance of integrating blue spaces and other key environmental and socioeconomic factors into urban planning, residential development, and healthcare environment design to improve life expectancy and health equity.
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