How is human breathable air changed by forests?: The characteristics of natural VOC in birch forests

Abstract

Since the outbreak of new viruses that cause highly infectious diseases among humans, such as SARS and COVID-19, people are increasingly interested in healthy living surrounded by nature. The pursuit of physical comfort is instinctive in most human beings; therefore, the influence of natural environment on humans is significant. Terms such as healing forest and forest medicine are associated with forests in some countries. Natural VOC, representing the healing forest factor, are widely known as phytoncide in Korea. Several studies have shown that NVOC emitted from forests have various beneficial effects such as disease prevention and health improvement.<br /> In this study, 380 samples were collected and analyzed to examine the characteristics of NVOC emitted from forest in Inje where many citizens visit to enjoy landscape. In this study, NVOC were analyzed in November 2018, May and July 2019, and measurements were performed at three different locations considering movement of citizens. Using mini pump and stainless steel tube filled with Tenax TA, 9L of NVOC was collected at a speed of 150mL/min.<br /> The analysis of NVOC composition in forest on an annual basis showed that it comprised α-pinene 27%, camphor 10%, and β-pinene 9%. Examination of the pattern of intraday NVOC concentration revealed that it was relatively high in the afternoon and increased when photoenvironment changed, where as the influence of wind speed. Evaluation of the correlation between the NVOC concentration and the microclimate in the forest showed that the concentration increased markedly with the increase in temperature and humidity, and the concentration decreased with the increase in wind speed. When the NVOC emission tendency of the birch forest was analyzed by season, high NVOC concentrations were detected in summer. In conclusion, these results can be used as basic data for the technical development of forest space management related to the establishment of forest healing spaces in the future.

Keywords: Human health and well-being, Monitoring and data collection, Covid-19, One Health

ID: 3477860