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Forests, Trees and Human Health pp 77–124Cite as

Negative Aspects and Hazardous Effects of Forest Environment on Human Health

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Abstract

Direct contacts with the nature can help people to improve their overall health and fitness. However, visits to forests and other open green spaces may also, occasionally, lead to health problems, or even threaten human life. Senescent and potentially unstable trees, fallen leaves and fruits which litter pavements and streets, possible encounters with wild animals, deteriorating tree quality by pests and pathogens or even plant protection activity directed at solving these problems may be perceived as negative aspects being unpleasant, detracting, scary, dangerous, or otherwise unattractive, although, objectively, in most cases they are not such. On the other hand, a number of allergic factors such as plant pollen and spores of moulds, toxic and poisonous mushrooms and plants, tick-borne pathogens, blood-feeding and stinging insects, as well as venomous snakes and predatory mammals can, occasionally, pose a real hazard to human health. In many cases these hazards are not even realized by visitors to open green spaces. The objective of this chapter is not to scare visitors to forests and urban parks, but make them aware of potential hazards related with their visits. It is to show potential threats and suggest periods, places and situations which should be avoided in order to keep these visits safe and rewarding for the health and well-being.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Poznan, Poland

    Marek Tomalak

  2. Homeopathic Clinic, Campo di Marte Hospital, Lucca, Italy

    Elio Rossi

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali, del Suolo e dell’Ambiente Agroforestale, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy

    Francesco Ferrini

  4. Poison Control Centre, Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy

    Paola A. Moro

Authors
  1. Marek Tomalak
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  2. Elio Rossi
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  3. Francesco Ferrini
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  4. Paola A. Moro
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Correspondence to Marek Tomalak .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Parks and Urban Landscapes, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, 1958, Denmark

    Kjell Nilsson

  2. , Land Use and Social Research, Forestry Commission, Corstorphine Road 231, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT, United Kingdom

    Marcus Sangster

  3. , National Agricultural Research Foundatio, Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, 57006, Greece

    Christos Gallis

  4. , Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Radhustorget 1, Gävle, 80320, Sweden

    Terry Hartig

  5. , Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, 6700 AA, Netherlands

    Sjerp de Vries

  6. , Group Society, Environment & Culture, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E, Sonneggstrasse 33, SOL E, Zurich, 9092, Switzerland

    Klaus Seeland

  7. , National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5 A - 2, Copenhagen K, 1353, Denmark

    Jasper Schipperijn

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Tomalak, M., Rossi, E., Ferrini, F., Moro, P.A. (2011). Negative Aspects and Hazardous Effects of Forest Environment on Human Health. In: Nilsson, K., et al. Forests, Trees and Human Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9806-1_4

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