Fight Air Pollution By Planting Trees

Tackle air pollution by planting more trees, experts have said.

18:16 01 November 2016

Planting more trees is a cost-effective way to reduce particulate matter (PM), or microscopic particles that become trapped in the lungs of people breathing polluted air, a recent study has claimed. 

 

Lead author Rob McDonald said: "The average reduction of particulate matter near a tree is between 7-24%, while the cooling effect is up to 2C (3.6F). There are already tens of millions of people getting those kinds of benefits,"

 

He added that planting trees is a more cost-effective way of cooling and cleaning air. He explained: "When you change a bus from diesel to gasoline, for example, you reduce particulate matter pollution, and trees are certainly in the same ball park."

 

Based on data released by the UN World Health Organisation (WHO), about 90per cent of the global population living in cities in 2014 were exposed to particulate matter that can possibly lead to the development of various diseases. The agency said that up to three million premature deaths in 2012 could be blamed to outdoor air pollution. 

 

The WHO Health Statistics 2016 says air pollution is "caused by inefficient energy production, distribution and use, especially in the industrial, transportation and building sectors, and by poor waste management".