Plantwatch: how urban trees and hedges help cut air pollution

The plants trap polluting particles like natural air filters, and protect against flooding, tooHedges and trees in towns and cities are more than just attractive, they can behave like natural air filters, trapping traffic pollution made up of dangerous microscopic particles blamed for a range of serious health problems, ranging from heart disease, asthma and strokes to diabetes, obesity and dementia.Astudy at Lancaster University showed that silver birch trees maintained as hedges at about the height of an adult person were particularly good at cleaning the air.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Trees and forests Air pollution Science Environment UK news University of Surrey Lancaster University Source Type: news