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Wu J, Wang Q, Xu C, Lun X, Wang L, Gao Y, Huang L, Zhang Q, Li L, Liu B, Liu H, Xu L. Biogenic volatile organic compounds in forest therapy base: A source of air pollutants or a healthcare function? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172944. [PMID: 38701919 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health, while biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play a crucial role in both aspects. However, the unclear relationship between BVOCs and air pollutants in the under-canopy space limits the accuracy of air pollution control and the exploitation of forest healthcare functions. To clarify the variation of BVOCs in forest therapy bases, and their impacts on ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at nose height, total VOCs (TVOCs) in the forest were collected during typical sunny days, while air pollutants and meteorological factors were observed simultaneously. The results showed that the branch-level emissions of P. tabuliformis were dominated by healthcare-effective monoterpenoids, with only α-pinene having relative air concentrations of over 5 % in forest air samples. The correlation between concentrations of under-canopy TVOCs and emission rates of BVOCs from P. tabuliformis was weak (p > 0.09) in all seasons. However, the correlation between concentrations of TVOCs and the concentrations of O3 and PM2.5 showed clear seasonal differences. In spring, TVOCs only showed a significant negative correlation with PM2.5 in the forest (p < 0.01). In summer and autumn, TVOCs were significantly negatively correlated with both O3 (p < 0.001) and PM2.5 (p < 0.01). Specifically, the negative linear relationships were more pronounced for O3 and oxygenated VOCs in autumn (R2 = 0.40, p < 0.001) than for other relationships. The relationship between air pollutant concentrations inside and outside the forest also showed significant seasonal differences, generally characterized by a weaker correlation between them during seasons of strong emissions. Therefore, BVOCs in coniferous forests are health functions as they can provide healthcare effects and mitigate the concentration of air pollutants in the forest, and the establishment of forest therapy bases in rural areas with low NOx can be a sensible approach to promote good health, well-being, and sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Wu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory for Forest Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem Research in Arid- and Semi-arid Region of State Forestry Administration, Research Center for Urban Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Chengyang Xu
- Key Laboratory for Forest Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem Research in Arid- and Semi-arid Region of State Forestry Administration, Research Center for Urban Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiaoxiu Lun
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Luxi Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yanshan Gao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Liang Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Airborne Particulate Matter Monitoring Technology, Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environment Monitoring Center, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Lingjun Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Airborne Particulate Matter Monitoring Technology, Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environment Monitoring Center, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Baoxian Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Airborne Particulate Matter Monitoring Technology, Beijing Municipal Ecological and Environment Monitoring Center, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Haixuan Liu
- Key Laboratory for Forest Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem Research in Arid- and Semi-arid Region of State Forestry Administration, Research Center for Urban Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lijuan Xu
- Key Laboratory for Forest Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Forest Ecosystem Research in Arid- and Semi-arid Region of State Forestry Administration, Research Center for Urban Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
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Xie Z, Sutaria SR, Chen JY, Gao H, Conklin DJ, Keith RJ, Srivastava S, Lorkiewicz P, Bhatnagar A. Evaluation of urinary limonene metabolites as biomarkers of exposure to greenness. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 245:117991. [PMID: 38141921 PMCID: PMC10922478 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to plants is known to improve physical and mental health and living in areas of high vegetation is associated with better health. The addition of quantitative measures of greenness exposure at individual-level to other objective and subjective study measures will help establish cause-and-effect relationships between greenspaces and human health. Because limonene is one of the most abundant biogenic volatile organic compounds emitted by plants, we hypothesized that urinary metabolites of inhaled limonene can serve as biomarkers of exposure to greenness. To test our hypothesis, we analyzed urine samples collected from eight human volunteers after limonene inhalation or after greenness exposure using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry-based profiling. Eighteen isomers of nine metabolites were detected in urine after limonene inhalation, and their kinetic parameters were estimated using nonlinear mixed effect models. Urinary levels of most abundant limonene metabolites were elevated after brief exposure to a forested area, and the ratio of urinary limonene metabolites provided evidence of recent exposure. The identities and structures of these metabolites were validated using stable isotope tracing and tandem mass spectral comparison. Together, these data suggest that urinary metabolites of limonene, especially uroterpenol glucuronide and dihydroperillic acid glucuronide, could be used as individualized biomarkers of greenness exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzhi Xie
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Saurin R Sutaria
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Jin Y Chen
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Hong Gao
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Daniel J Conklin
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Rachel J Keith
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Sanjay Srivastava
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Pawel Lorkiewicz
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Aruni Bhatnagar
- Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, USA; Superfund Research Center, University of Louisville, USA; American Heart Association-Tobacco Regulation and Addiction Center, University of Louisville, USA; Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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Vermeesch AL, Ellsworth-Kopkowski A, Prather JG, Passel C, Rogers HH, Hansen MM. Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): A Scoping Review of the Global Research on the Effects of Spending Time in Nature. GLOBAL ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND HEALTH 2024; 13:27536130241231258. [PMID: 38420597 PMCID: PMC10901062 DOI: 10.1177/27536130241231258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Background This Scoping review (ScR) builds upon the 2017 review conducted by Hansen et al which contributed to evidence base shinrin-yoku (SY), also known as forest bathing (FB), has many positive health effects and is becoming a prescribed dose (specific time spent in nature) by health care providers. Practice and research regarding SY, has been historically based in Asian countries with a recent increase in Europe. The need and call for more research worldwide continues to further the evidence of SY as a health promotion modality. Through this ScR the authors identified programmatic components, health information monitored and screened, time spent in nature, geographical regions, trends, and themes in SY research worldwide. Methods Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines we searched across 7 electronic databases for SY or FB research articles from 2017 through 2022. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Embase, JSTOR were included due to the interdisciplinary nature of SY or FB research. Each database provided unique strengths ensuring a capture of a wide range of articles. The resulting articles were screened and extracted through Covidence. Results Database searches returned 241 results, with 110 references removed during the deduplication process, 131 were initially screened in the title and abstract review stage. Resulting in 82 unique results deemed relevant and screened in full text. During the final stage of the review, 63 articles met all inclusion criteria and were extracted for data. Conclusions The practice of SY has physiological (PHYS) and psychological (PSYCH) benefits across age groups. Research findings indicate either the natural or the virtual environment (VW) has significant health benefits. Continued research is encouraged globally for short- and long-term health outcomes for all individuals. The connection with nature benefits the mind, body and soul and is supported by Henry David Thoreau's philosophy: "Our livesneed the relief of where the pine flourishes and the jay still scream."
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber L. Vermeesch
- Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration Coordinator, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | | | - Jenifer G. Prather
- College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Donelli D, Meneguzzo F, Antonelli M, Ardissino D, Niccoli G, Gronchi G, Baraldi R, Neri L, Zabini F. Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety Symptoms: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2773. [PMID: 36833470 PMCID: PMC9957398 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Immersive experiences in green areas, particularly in forests, have long been known to produce beneficial effects for human health. However, the exact determinants and mechanisms leading to healthy outcomes remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this observational cohort study was to investigate whether inhaling plant-emitted biogenic volatile compounds, namely monoterpenes (MTs), can produce specific effects on anxiety symptoms. Data from 505 subjects participating in 39 structured forest therapy sessions at different Italian sites were collected. The air concentration of monoterpenes was measured at each site. STAI state questionnaires were administered before and after the sessions as a measure of anxiety. A propensity score matching analysis was then performed, considering an above-average exposure to inhalable air MTs as the treatment. The estimated effect was -1.28 STAI-S points (95% C.I. -2.51 to -0.06, p = 0.04), indicating that the average effect of exposure to high MT air concentrations during forest therapy sessions was to decrease anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Donelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43121 Parma, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Meneguzzo
- Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Central Scientific Committee, Italian Alpine Club, 19 Via E. Petrella, I-20124 Milano, Italy
| | - Michele Antonelli
- Department of Public Health, AUSL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, I-42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Diego Ardissino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43121 Parma, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Niccoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, I-43121 Parma, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, I-43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gronchi
- Section of Psychology, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy
| | - Rita Baraldi
- Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Luisa Neri
- Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Federica Zabini
- Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Kim E, Park S, Kim S, Choi Y, Cho JH, Kim G. Is altitude a determinant of the health benefits of nature exposure? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1021618. [PMID: 36504926 PMCID: PMC9732270 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1021618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nature exposure is a widely accepted option for promoting public health owing to the recent surge of scientific evidence. However, the actual settings to facilitate this initiative is yet to be extensively reviewed. In this systematic review, we have aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of interventional studies investigating the psycho-physiological effects of forests and urban forests, including details on their physical settings, and investigate an effect-modifying role of altitude and summarize data on the magnitude and shape of the association. Methods A keyword search using five electronic academic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus) was conducted to identify relevant articles published in English from the inception year to the end of February 2022. The methodological quality was evaluated using the ROBINS-I or ROB2 tool, depending on the study design. Meta-regression and random effects model were jointly used to examine the relationship between altitude and health outcomes. Results We included 27 eligible studies and 31 cases extracted from 19 studies were used for the meta-analysis. In the meta-regression, we observed a non-linear association between altitude and psycho-physiological effects. Altitude had a positive quadratic association with anxiety (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 96.79%), depression (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 98.78%), and fatigue (p < 0.000, adjusted R 2 = 64.74%) alleviating effects. Conversely, altitude demonstrated a negative non-linear association with the blood pressure-lowering effect (p = 0.009, adjusted R 2 = 32.83%). Additionally, the thermal index (THI) and illuminance (lx) levels were significantly associated with effect sizes of psychological restoration. Discussion This review provides moderate-certainty evidence for an effect-modifying role of altitude. The meta-regression results suggested the optimal and minimal altitude ranges for psychological restoration and physiological relaxation, respectively. Despite some limitations, the study findings provide a significant basis for utilizing altitude, which is easily accessible and simple, to promote the health benefits of nature-based initiatives. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022310894, identifier: CRD42022310894.
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Bunse M, Daniels R, Gründemann C, Heilmann J, Kammerer DR, Keusgen M, Lindequist U, Melzig MF, Morlock GE, Schulz H, Schweiggert R, Simon M, Stintzing FC, Wink M. Essential Oils as Multicomponent Mixtures and Their Potential for Human Health and Well-Being. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:956541. [PMID: 36091825 PMCID: PMC9449585 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.956541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) and their individual volatile organic constituents have been an inherent part of our civilization for thousands of years. They are widely used as fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics and contribute to a healthy diet, but also act as active ingredients of pharmaceutical products. Their antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties have qualified EOs early on for both, the causal and symptomatic therapy of a number of diseases, but also for prevention. Obtained from natural, mostly plant materials, EOs constitute a typical example of a multicomponent mixture (more than one constituent substances, MOCS) with up to several hundreds of individual compounds, which in a sophisticated composition make up the property of a particular complete EO. The integrative use of EOs as MOCS will play a major role in human and veterinary medicine now and in the future and is already widely used in some cases, e.g., in aromatherapy for the treatment of psychosomatic complaints, for inhalation in the treatment of respiratory diseases, or topically administered to manage adverse skin diseases. The diversity of molecules with different functionalities exhibits a broad range of multiple physical and chemical properties, which are the base of their multi-target activity as opposed to single isolated compounds. Whether and how such a broad-spectrum effect is reflected in natural mixtures and which kind of pharmacological potential they provide will be considered in the context of ONE Health in more detail in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Bunse
- Department of Analytical Development and Research, WALA Heilmittel GmbH, Bad Boll, Germany
| | - Rolf Daniels
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carsten Gründemann
- Translational Complementary Medicine, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Heilmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dietmar R. Kammerer
- Department of Analytical Development and Research, WALA Heilmittel GmbH, Bad Boll, Germany
| | - Michael Keusgen
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Lindequist
- Institute of Pharmacy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Gertrud E. Morlock
- Institute of Nutritional Science, Chair of Food Science and TransMIT Center for Effect-Directed Analysis, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hartwig Schulz
- Consulting & Project Management for Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Stahnsdorf, Germany
| | - Ralf Schweiggert
- Institute of Beverage Research, Chair of Analysis and Technology of Plant-Based Foods, Geisenheim University, Geisenheim, Germany
| | - Meinhard Simon
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Florian C. Stintzing
- Department of Analytical Development and Research, WALA Heilmittel GmbH, Bad Boll, Germany
| | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Kim E, Park S, Kim S, Choi Y, Cho J, Cho SI, Chun HR, Kim G. Can Different Forest Structures Lead to Different Levels of Therapeutic Effects? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1427. [PMID: 34828474 PMCID: PMC8623963 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9111427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, forests have expanded from natural resources for conservation and production to health-promoting resources. With the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic effects of forests, the number of investigations on the relationship between forest characteristics and therapeutic effects have increased. However, quantitative synthesis of primary studies has rarely been conducted due to a limited number of health studies including forest description and high heterogeneity of forest variables. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between the forest structure and the therapeutic effect. We systematically searched the studies examining the therapeutic effects of forests with different stand density and canopy density and synthesized the results. As a result of subgroup analysis, we found that stand density modifies the therapeutic effects. Emotional and cognitive restoration showed greatest improvement in low-density forests with a stand density of less than 500/ha and the therapeutic effects diminish as the stand density increases. The impact of canopy density was not found due to a lack of studies reporting canopy density. Although some limitations remain, the findings in this study have great significance in providing the basis for establishing management strategies of forests for therapeutic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunsoo Kim
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Sujin Park
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Soojin Kim
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Yeji Choi
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Junghee Cho
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Sung-il Cho
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.-i.C.); (H.-r.C.)
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hae-ryoung Chun
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (S.-i.C.); (H.-r.C.)
| | - Geonwoo Kim
- Future Forest Strategy Department, Forest Human Service Division, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Korea; (E.K.); (S.P.); (S.K.); (Y.C.); (J.C.)
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Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189509. [PMID: 34574446 PMCID: PMC8470271 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Immersion in forest environments was shown to produce beneficial effects to human health, in particular psychophysical relaxation, leading to its growing recognition as a form of integrative medicine. However, limited evidence exists about the statistical significance of the effects and their association with external and environmental variables and personal characteristics. This experimental study aimed to substantiate the very concept of forest therapy by means of the analysis of the significance of its effects on the mood states of anxiety, depression, anger and confusion. Seven forest therapy sessions were performed in remote areas and a control one in an urban park, with participants allowed to attend only one session, resulting in 162 psychological self-assessment questionnaires administered before and after each session. Meteorological comfort, the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the forest atmosphere and environmental coherence were identified as likely important external and environmental variables. Under certain conditions, forest therapy sessions performed in remote sites were shown to outperform the control session, at least for anxiety, anger and confusion. A quantitative analysis of the association of the outcomes with personal sociodemographic characteristics revealed that only sporting habits and age were significantly associated with the outcomes for certain psychological domains.
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