The majority of us are relaxed in the presence of water, as much as we walk along the beach, sitting on the side of the lake or listening to the sound of a running river. These spots are known to scientists as blue spaces and increasing evidence suggests that they are not only a pleasant thing to see but it turns out they may directly affect our life span. The first large scale evidence of a link between blue spaces and life expectancy in the United States has now been provided by a high impact 2025 study published in Environmental Research.
The findings? Residence close to coast seems to increase life span, whilst residence close to large inland water seems to be associated with reduced life span. Now we will immerse ourselves in what the researchers found out and what this means to our communities.
What Are Blue Spaces and Why?
Blue spaces are natural water bodies like oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Similar to green spaces (parks, forests and gardens), they are important determinants of health and well being.
The previous studies prove that blue spaces positively affect mental wellbeing with reduced stress, anxiety, and even PTSD symptoms. They promote physical exercise, swimming as well as walking along the beach, and serve as natural air conditioners in overheated urban areas. They also lessen pollution and social interaction things known to increase the quality of life and lifespan.
But until recently, no research had directly associated blue space with life expectancy-average years of life an individual is expected to live.
Mapping Water and Longevity. U.S. Study.
The Ohio State University researchers examined the data of 66,263 census tracts of the contiguous United States. They cross tabulated life expectancy data provided by the CDC with detailed maps of coastlines, rivers and lakes. They also considered socioeconomic status, air quality, climate, elevation, and population density in order to provide a fair comparison.
Three well developed statistical models were used to reduce bias, including multi level and spatial regression. The outcome: the first in-depth analysis of how our surroundings affect our longevity.
Key Findings
Coastal Living Extends Life
The lifespan of people residing within 50 km (approximately, 30 miles) of the coast was considerably increased in comparison with the people who lived in more distant regions. The advantages were the same in cities and rural areas.
Inland Waters Record Ambivalent Results
The closer the place of residence was to big inland water bodies including big lakes or rivers the lower the life expectancy was. Interestingly in the rural areas, closeness to inland waters was positively linked to longevity.
Why the Difference?
The researchers identified a number of environmental and social variables that justify this gap:
Temperature: Areas closer to the coast experienced warmer temperatures, less extreme hot days and had more consistent weather patterns.
Air Quality: The exposures of coastal tracts to harmful fine-particle pollution (PM 2.5) and smoke were reduced.
Terrain and Transport: Access to healthcare and reduced stress associated with improved terrain along the coast.
Income Levels: It was also determined that incomes of households were higher in areas that are strongly linked to better health outcomes.
Floods and drought risks: Inland water also correlates with the higher risks of floods and exposure to smoke, which is also a health hazard.
Urban vs. Rural Divide
Life expectancy was lower in cities where people lived by inland waters, probably because of pollution and social pressures.
Longer life expectancy was also linked to inland waters in rural settings, perhaps due to the resources, cooler conditions, and recreational advantages of inland waters without the negatives of dense city pollution.
Why This is Important to Public Health and Planning.
These conclusions go beyond personal health, they hint to the reality that urban design and environmental policy can have a direct impact on community health. The development of neighborhoods that ensure secure, easy access to waterfronts and safeguarding of natural coastal landscapes might become a community health approach.
For example:
Exercise and relaxation can be encouraged by increasing access to beaches and rivers by the general population.
Cities can fight climate change by investing in blue green infrastructure, such as waterfront parkland, restored wetlands, and river walks.
The environmental risks should not overwhelm the benefits of blue spaces, and policies that lower air pollution and control inland flood risks can help achieve this.
The Equity Dimension
Another important study observation is the disproportionate distribution of benefits. Richer communities tend to be closer to cleaner coastline waters, whereas marginalized groups tend to be concentrated in regions further inland with more environmental hazards.
To address this imbalance would be to provide equitable access to clean and safe blue spaces to all communities urban and rural, rich and poor. The public investments should not only aim at developing recreational areas, but also enhance the quality of water, air, and infrastructure within and surrounding inland settings.
Conclusion
This pioneering research shows an interesting fact, that our location relative to water can determine our longevity. Despite the fact that the proximity to the coast is linked to a stable health advantage, inland waters are more complex in their image and it is affected by both environmental and social factors.
In the eyes of the policymakers, those in charge of urban planning, as well as the health officials, the message is simple, it is not only about the beauty when incorporating blue spaces in the planning of the communities, but it is also about survival. To the rest of us, it serves as a reminder that our association with water is closely linked to our health and future.
Reference
Cao, Y., Martins, R., & Wu, J. (2025). Unveiling complexity in blue spaces and life expectancy. Environmental Research, 281, 121981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121981