Air

Tropical rainforests play an important role in reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere that causes global warming. Acting as the lungs of the world they take in carbon dioxide. Local and regional climate changes are often caused by deforestation.

Local air quality can be improved by tree cover. In urban areas broad-leaved trees help to absorb the pollutants from traffic and industrial activities acting as a filter for many emissions.

Health

Wood dust at work causes various allergic reactions, including asthma and alveolitis (breathlessness and flu-like symptoms) caused by inflammation of the lungs. Some wood dusts - oak, beech and mahogony, are known to cause nasal cancers in furniture making areas.

Click here for incidence of asthma