WELLINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Higher population density is associated with worse air quality and related health outcomes in New Zealand's largest city Auckland, according to a study published on Friday.

Housing intensification in Auckland will likely increase ill health from air pollution unless steps are taken to reduce exposure to emissions from motor vehicles, according to a study by the University of Auckland.

Respiratory hospitalizations and asthma in children were higher for more densely populated areas, and air pollution, especially nitrogen dioxide (NO2), was linked with population density, the study showed based on data from 2015-2017.

Among pollution sources such as traffic, domestic fires and industry, motor vehicle traffic is the most important source and is the highest in the most densely populated parts of the city, the study said, adding transport reforms to reduce such traffic should be considered when planning for denser cities.

Published at the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, the research explored associations between population density, air pollution concentrations, and related health outcomes in New Zealand's Auckland.

Higher population density was associated with higher concentrations of NO2 and PM2.5. Adverse health outcomes related to NO2 and respiratory hospitalizations attributed to PM2.5 exposure increased incrementally with the density of urban areas, the research article said. Enditem

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