The relation of forest and air pollution with human health in urban territories of Lithuania

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the forest, air pollution and human health in eight Lithuanian urban territories. The links between forest coverage, forests remoteness and recreational forests with quality of life parameters and population density were evaluated using Redundancy (RDA) and correlation analysis. The RDA analysis showed a positive relationship between forest coverage and disorders of psychological development. Forest coverage was closely associated with air quality (pollution with particulate materials, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, gasiform and liquid materials). The correlation was determined between forest remoteness, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, solid, gasiform and liquid materials. Forest remoteness is associated with congenital defects of the nervous and blood circulation system and disorders of psychological development. Presents of recreational forests are connected with asthma, disorders of psychological development and visits to medical institutions.