# Analysis of Chainsaw Emissions during Chestnut Wood Operations and Their Health Implications
## 3 Results and discussion
### Exposure to Airborne Pollutants  
Table 4 shows the average values of the maximum detections obtained in each of the eight repeated measurements, along with the corresponding mean values of the same measurements. The table also includes the relative standard deviations (SDs) and coefficients of variation (CVs) for the measurements. Figure 4 shows the average concentrations of CO, VOC, and C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\) detected during each of the eight time intervals monitored for each process by using the Multi-RAE PGM-50 plus professional gas detector. The graphs also display the legally established emission \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**MED (Max)**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**SD (Max)**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**CV (Max)**} \\ \hline  & **CO** & **VOC** & **C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\)** & **CO** & **VOC** & **C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\)** & **CO** & **VOC** & **C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\)** \\ \hline
**Felling–FE** & 135.96 & 17.28 & 2.51 & 25.75 & 4.63 & 0.48 & 0.19 & 0.27 & 0.19 \\
**Delimbing–DE** & 33.09 & 2.65 & 1.13 & 11.15 & 1.07 & 0.21 & 0.34 & 0.40 & 0.18 \\
**Bucking–BU** & 76.26 & 15.24 & 1.73 & 11.31 & 4.12 & 0.55 & 0.15 & 0.27 & 0.32 \\ \hline  & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**MED (Av)**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**SD (Av)**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**CV (Av)**} \\ \hline  & **CO** & **VOC** & **C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\)** & **CO** & **VOC** & **C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\)** & **CO** & **VOC** & **C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\)** \\ \hline
**Felling–FE** & 36.66 & 2.81 & 1.16 & 16.09 & 2.18 & 0.26 & 0.44 & 0.78 & 0.22 \\
**Delimbing–DE** & 20.21 & 0.60 & 0.76 & 5.02 & 0.44 & 0.33 & 0.25 & 0.73 & 0.43 \\
**Bucking–BU** & 27.08 & 0.96 & 0.98 & 1.92 & 0.57 & 0.28 & 0.07 & 0.59 & 0.29 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Gas emissions detected during the different cutting operations. Figure 3: Comparisons between the average noise values measured for each diametric class and the relevant legal limits (**a–c**). Comparisons between the maximum values recorded for each diametric class and the relevant peak limits set by law (**d**). limits. The graphical representations reveal noticeable changes in the measured variables, particularly in the emissions observed during the FE phase. To assess the variability of the data, the average of the maximum values was considered more reliable, despite the potential presence of momentary peaks. This choice is justified because during the period of 15 min of constant detection, the chainsaw engine often remains running without actively cutting. In line with this rationale, the coefficients of variation calculated on the maximum values were relatively low, whereas those calculated on the averages exhibited higher values (as shown in Table 5). The coefficients of variation were particularly higher for delimbing operations compared to other cases. This variability can be attributed to the significant diameter variations observed among branches of the same tree. The coefficients of variation computed on the average values were generally high, except for CO emissions during BU (bucking) operations, which showed a CV value of 7%. Table 5 shows that the maximum values observed during the three different interventions significantly exceeded the thresholds established by international regulations. However, observing the average values, the situation appears less critical. It should be highlighted that maximum emission values are rarely reached in the experimental time intervals during the various operations. Bucking operations (BU) showed average emissions lower than the threshold, and DE operations recorded values slightly higher and close to the limits. The most critical scenario occurred during Forest Extraction (FE) operations, with emissions exceeding the permitted threshold, in particular for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These results highlight the greater need to use personal protective equipment  
Figure 4: Average CO, VOC, and C\({}_{6}\)H\({}_{6}\) (ppm) emissions detected in each reference interval.