A Literature Review on the Health Impacts of Wood and Mass Timber Buildings

Abstract

In response to the pressing need to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment, there has been growing interest in using bio-based building materials, including mass timber. Apart from potentially offering a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional structural materials, one emerging area of research is the potential positive and negative health impacts that mass timber may have on building occupants. There is a robust and growing body of work on the linkages between human health and the built environment. While there is a larger body of work on the health impacts of wood used in the built environment more broadly, few studies have looked specifically at mass timber. Additionally, when mass timber buildings have been studied, the research is focused heavily on mass timber used in commercial, educational, and public buildings, with relatively fewer applications in residential construction. As a result, research on its health impacts in residential settings is still limited. Linkages between construction material and occupant health and well-being are challenging to prove. This paper is a literature review of the available scientific and industry literature on the documented health impacts of wood and mass timber in construction. The key health impacts discussed are improved indoor air quality, improved thermal comfort, enhanced cognitive performance, reduced stress levels, and physiological relaxation. This paper also explores trends in the types of buildings and occupants studied, identifies key researchers and organizations, and highlights gaps and opportunities for future research.