Examinando por Autor "Yu, Hu"

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    Health Benefits of Airborne Terpenoids and Aeroanions: Insights from Thematic Review of Chinese-Language Research on Forest Sensory Experiences
    (MDPI, 2024-04-04) Buckley, Ralf; Zhong, Linsheng; Yu, Hu; Zhu, Dongfang; Cooper, Mary-Ann
    Most research on air chemistry and human health has focused on negative consequences of air pollution from cities, rural dust, mining, or industrial sites. Research on nature tourism and nature therapy, in contrast, focuses on positive benefits of air quality for physical and mental health, e.g., via “clean air clean water” holidays. Aeroanions and terpenoids in forests have received particular attention, especially in China, Japan, and Korea. We review and analyse several hundred articles published in English and Chinese. With a few recent exceptions, English-language research has tested indoor negative ion generators, and concluded that they have no measurable health benefit. It has tested terpenoids in indoor aroma marketing. Chinese-language research, in contrast, has analysed fine-scale components of outdoor environments that affect concentrations of aeroanions and terpenoids: ecosystem, latitude, altitude, temperature, proximity to water, and individual plant species. Historically, health outcomes have been taken for granted, with little rigorous testing. Air quality research has shown that aeroanions can become attached to fine water droplets, e.g., after rain in forests, or in mists produced locally by waterfalls. We hypothesise that the health benefits of aeroanions in natural environments may arise through the scavenging of airborne particulates by negatively charged mists, creating especially clean, dust-free air. We propose that this particularly clean-tasting air, contrasting strongly with polluted urban air, creates positive effects on human mental health and perhaps, also on pulmonary physical health. Mechanisms and outcomes remain to be tested. We also propose testing psychological health effects of airborne terpenoid scents from forest trees.
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    Ítem
    Health Benefits of Airborne Terpenoids and Aeroanions: Insights from Thematic Review of Chinese-Language Research on Forest Sensory Experiences
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-04-04) Buckley, Ralf; Zhong, Linsheng; Yu, Hu; Zhu, Dongfang; Cooper, Mary-Ann
    Most research on air chemistry and human health has focused on negative consequences of air pollution from cities, rural dust, mining, or industrial sites. Research on nature tourism and nature therapy, in contrast, focuses on positive benefits of air quality for physical and mental health, e.g., via “clean air clean water” holidays. Aeroanions and terpenoids in forests have received particular attention, especially in China, Japan, and Korea. We review and analyse several hundred articles published in English and Chinese. With a few recent exceptions, English-language research has tested indoor negative ion generators, and concluded that they have no measurable health benefit. It has tested terpenoids in indoor aroma marketing. Chinese-language research, in contrast, has analysed fine-scale components of outdoor environments that affect concentrations of aeroanions and terpenoids: ecosystem, latitude, altitude, temperature, proximity to water, and individual plant species. Historically, health outcomes have been taken for granted, with little rigorous testing. Air quality research has shown that aeroanions can become attached to fine water droplets, e.g., after rain in forests, or in mists produced locally by waterfalls. We hypothesise that the health benefits of aeroanions in natural environments may arise through the scavenging of airborne particulates by negatively charged mists, creating especially clean, dust-free air. We propose that this particularly clean-tasting air, contrasting strongly with polluted urban air, creates positive effects on human mental health and perhaps, also on pulmonary physical health. Mechanisms and outcomes remain to be tested. We also propose testing psychological health effects of airborne terpenoid scents from forest trees.
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    Senses, emotions and wellbeing in forest recreation and tourism
    (Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2024) Zhong, Linsheng; Campbell, Carly; Buckley, Ralf; Zhu, Dongfang; Yu, Hu; Chauvenet, Alienor; Cooper, Mary-Ann
    Outdoor tourism can provide nature therapies. Implementation research for mental healthcare aims to establish psychological mechanisms and specify designs, doses and durations for medical trials. As one component, we tested simultaneous links from senses to emotions, and emotions to self-perceived wellbeing, for 524 tourists at 27 forest reserves in China. We used quantitative surveys, in person, with: 5-point Likert-type scales to measure links; free-text descriptions of their most memorable sensory and emotional experiences during these forest visits; and 7-item Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) and 10-item Kessler stress index (K10) to measure mental health and wellbeing. We found that Chinese forest tourists perceive strongly (p < 0.00001) that sensory experiences drive emotions, and emotions determine wellbeing. Senses reported were: sight by 86%, sound by 36%, smell by 41%, touch by 18%, temperature by 42%, and humidity by 20%. The number of senses engaged during forest experiences ranged from 1, for 39%, to 6, for 9%. The K10 stress-reduction measure of wellbeing was significantly (p = 0.0272) but weakly (R2 = 0.009) correlated with the number of senses engaged. Future research on mechanisms for mental health benefits to outdoor tourists, and tourist choreography by tour guides and trail signs, should therefore focus on intensity of senses and emotions. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.