Nowak, David J.; Hirabayashi, Satoshi; Bodine, Allison; Greenfield, Eric, 2014. Environmental Pollution. 193: 119-129.
Abstract: Trees remove air pollution by the
interception of particulate matter on plant surfaces and the absorption
of gaseous pollutants through the leaf stomata. However, the magnitude
and value of the effects of trees and forests on air quality and human
health across the United States remains unknown. Computer simulations
with local environmental data reveal that trees and forests in the
conterminous United States removed 17.4 million tonnes (t) of air
pollution in 2010 (range: 9.0-23.2 million t), with human health effects
valued at 6.8 billion U.S. dollars (range: $1.5-13.0 billion). This
pollution removal equated to an average air quality improvement of less
than one percent. Most of the pollution removal occurred in rural areas,
while most of the health impacts and values were within urban areas.
Health impacts included the avoidance of more than 850 incidences of
human mortality and 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms.
Full article PDF available at http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/46102.
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