This sure is a no-brainer to me, but it looks like living in places with fewer trees can shorten your lifespan.PBS ran this story on research done by the NIH. It seems that the destruction of trees by the emerald ash borer, an invasive forest pest, has increased mortality from cardiovascular and lower-respiratory diseases. In the 15 states whose trees are infected with the bug, an additional 21,000 people died from cardiovascular and lower respiratory disease compared with uninfected areas of the country.
Perhaps we should start thinking of trees not just as scenery or lumber. Maybe we should start thinking about them as medicine and maybe treehugging makes sense after all.
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