| Title: | Forest Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Effects on Human Health: A State-of-the-Art Review |
| Author(s): | Antonelli M; Donelli D; Barbieri G; Valussi M; Maggini V; Firenzuoli F; |
| Address: | "Terme di Monticelli, 43022 Monticelli Terme PR, Italy. Institute of Public Health, University of Parma, 43125 Parma PR, Italy. CERFIT, Careggi University Hospital, 50139 Firenze FI, Italy. AUSL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia RE, Italy. Binini Partners S.r.l. Engineering and Architecture, 42121 Reggio Emilia RE, Italy. European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association (EHTPA), Norwich NR3 1HG, UK" |
| Journal Title: | Int J Environ Res Public Health |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The aim of this research work is to analyze the chemistry and diversity of forest VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and to outline their evidence-based effects on health. This research work was designed as a narrative overview of the scientific literature. Inhaling forest VOCs like limonene and pinene can result in useful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on the airways, and the pharmacological activity of some terpenes absorbed through inhalation may be also beneficial to promote brain functions by decreasing mental fatigue, inducing relaxation, and improving cognitive performance and mood. The tree composition can markedly influence the concentration of specific VOCs in the forest air, which also exhibits cyclic diurnal variations. Moreover, beneficial psychological and physiological effects of visiting a forest cannot be solely attributed to VOC inhalation but are due to a global and integrated stimulation of the five senses, induced by all specific characteristics of the natural environment, with the visual component probably playing a fundamental role in the overall effect. Globally, these findings can have useful implications for individual wellbeing, public health, and landscape design. Further clinical and environmental studies are advised, since the majority of the existing evidence is derived from laboratory findings" |
| Keywords: | *Air Pollutants/analysis *Environmental Health Environmental Monitoring Forests Humans *Trees *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis biogenic volatile organic compounds forest limonene phytoncides pinene preventive medicine public health review; |
| Notes: | "MedlineAntonelli, Michele Donelli, Davide Barbieri, Grazia Valussi, Marco Maggini, Valentina Firenzuoli, Fabio eng Review Switzerland 2020/09/11 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 7; 17(18):6506. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186506" |
