A tree farm is a privately owned forest that produces renewable crops of trees and forest products. A tree farm may also provide wildlife habitat or recreational space. Tree farms may be cause for concern because vehicles, equipment, and machinery used on tree farms may run on diesel, gasoline, or propane for fuel. This equipment may emit carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and other air pollutants.

If pesticides and herbicides are used on the tree crops, they may end up in runoff that causes water quality problems in streams, rivers, and other bodies of water. They may also be emitted into the air.

Logging may cause soil erosion, air pollution, and destruction of wildlife and plant habitat. Soil erosion and sediment production can pollute streams and rivers and threaten aquatic life. Beneficial nutrients found in living trees, which help the soil and other plants, are removed from a forest when trees are cut down.

Tree farm workers may be exposed to pesticides, air pollution, and pests such as rodents and ticks. Safety concerns on a tree farm include vehicles, machinery, logging equipment, and tools.

This description is based on the information found in the Web links listed with this topic.

Web Links from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine)
Occupational Health

More Links
Forest and Conservation Workers. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine)
Logging (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Logging eTool (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Logging Safety (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
Logging Safety (University of Maine Extension Service)
Logging Workers. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine)

Chemicals and Tree Farms
Are these chemicals in MY community?
Carbon Monoxide
Diesel
Gasoline
Methanol
Particulate Matter
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Pesticides
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Propane

Last Updated: January 24, 2013