PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Assessing the Impact of Saw Chain Type and Wood Species on Wood Dust Concentration in Forestry Operations: Implications for Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas
Version 1
: Received: 27 November 2023 / Approved: 28 November 2023 / Online: 28 November 2023 (08:24:19 CET)
How to cite:
Dimou, V.; Tioutiountzi, T.; Kitikidou, K. Assessing the Impact of Saw Chain Type and Wood Species on Wood Dust Concentration in Forestry Operations: Implications for Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas. Preprints2023, 2023111786. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202311.1786.v1
Dimou, V.; Tioutiountzi, T.; Kitikidou, K. Assessing the Impact of Saw Chain Type and Wood Species on Wood Dust Concentration in Forestry Operations: Implications for Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas. Preprints 2023, 2023111786. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202311.1786.v1
Dimou, V.; Tioutiountzi, T.; Kitikidou, K. Assessing the Impact of Saw Chain Type and Wood Species on Wood Dust Concentration in Forestry Operations: Implications for Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas. Preprints2023, 2023111786. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202311.1786.v1
APA Style
Dimou, V., Tioutiountzi, T., & Kitikidou, K. (2023). Assessing the Impact of Saw Chain Type and Wood Species on Wood Dust Concentration in Forestry Operations: Implications for Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202311.1786.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Dimou, V., Theodora Tioutiountzi and Kyriaki Kitikidou. 2023 "Assessing the Impact of Saw Chain Type and Wood Species on Wood Dust Concentration in Forestry Operations: Implications for Air Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202311.1786.v1
Abstract
This study examines the impact of chainsaw chain type and tree species on the concen-tration of inhalable wood dust generated during motor-manual harvesting in forested areas. The chainsaw chain is a critical component, contributing not only to productivity but also to the oper-ator's health and safety. Wood dust creation during harvesting operations poses significant risks and necessitates careful attention due to its potential health effects. We investigated the effects by conducting real-world measurements of inhalable dust within the operator's breathing zone during forestry work. Two different chain types were evaluated: the commonly used 3/8" pitch chain (conventional chain) and the 0.325" pitch chain. Additionally, measurements were taken for three tree species: beech, oak, and pine (including both live and standing dead trees after a fire). Results showed that, overall, using the conventional 3/8" chain type yielded the highest concentration of wood dust for all three tree species. Notably, the highest wood dust concentration was observed in the burned Pinus brutia cluster, also with the 3/8" chain pitch. These findings emphasize the im-portance of understanding how chain type and tree species contribute to wood dust levels and provide valuable insights for enhancing operator health and safety during motor-manual har-vesting operations
Keywords
chainsaw chain type; inhalable wood dust concentration; motor-manual harvesting; operator health and safety; tree species
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
