[The role of the forest and public parks in Hungarian health].

The author presents a survey of the effects exercised by the public parks on the environment. The beneficial effect on climate, air pollution and the reduction of noise is stated mainly based on the results of investigations carried out in Hungary. The usefulness of public parks is reviewed from the standpoint of hygiene (environmental protection, recreation, therapy). The importance of the public parks and other green areas for recreational purposes is particularly stressed using Hungarian data as a basis. Some details are made known concerning the urban parks, their development between 1961 and 1980, as well as the further planning up to the turn of the century, with particular attention being paid to ecological and recreational aspects. In this context, the emission into atmosphere of substances noxious to plant life needs special attention.