7/23/2019 Role of Trees in Control of Air Pollution
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Their broad-scale estimates concluded that trees are saving more
than 850 human lives a year
and preventing 670,000 incidents of acute respiratory symptoms -
and that's just by improving air
uality less than one percent!
"ot to mention that trees can help save #7 billion a year in
health costs by reducing respiratory
illness!
The study, published in the journal $nvironmental %ollution,
&as led by ave "o&a( and $ric
)reenfield of the *+ orest +ervice's "orthern esearch +tation
."+/ and +atoshi irabayashi
and 1llison 2odine of the avey 3nstitute! 3t is the first to
directly lin( air pollution to improved
healthy effects!
esearchers came to these staggering conclusions by investigating
four pollutants in particular4
nitrogen dioide, oone, sulfur dioide, and particulate matter
less than !5 microns .%!5/ in
aerodynamic diameter! The $nvironmental %rotection 1gency .$%1/
currently has air uality
standards established for these four pollutants!
The "+ team found that pollution removal is substantially higher
in rural areas compared to
urban areas, ho&ever the effects on human health are
considerably greater in urban areas than
rural areas!
9:ith more than 80 percent of 1mericans living in urban areas,
this research underscores ho&
truly essential urban forests are to people across the nation,9
ichael T! ains, irector of the
orest +ervice's "orthern esearch +tation, said in a ne&s
release!
ealth effects related to air pollution include impacts on
pulmonary, cardiac, vascular, and
neurological systems! 3n the *nited +tates, approimately ;
