City-dwellers, if you didn’t already love your trees, here is another reason for you to become a treehugger. Researchers of the University of Leicester have found that trees are vital for improving the quality of air that we breathe in our cities. They have a measurable impact on pedestrians, by reducing ambient concentrations of road traffic emissions. The study shows the trees do this by dispersing pollutants. It was also found that trees reduce wind speeds, but at the same time produce turbulence in these winds that helps disperse pollution, lowering the exposure that pedestrians face. Besides pollution, trees are well known to reduce stress. With cities increasingly growing around the world, these new findings are of great importance in the future of urban planning.
Scientists explain the impact of urban trees on air quality: They decrease pollution levels
More of Today's Solutions
Nine new tardigrade species discovered with help from Danish schoolchildren
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are small, resilient creatures that have fascinated scientists for decades. These tiny ...
Read MoreParis votes to pedestrianize 500 more streets in push for greener city
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a resounding show of support for a greener, more walkable city, Parisians voted to pedestrianize an additional ...
Read MoreTurning waste into musical instruments for disadvantaged youths
In Spain, a creative social project aims to improve the lives of children from disadvantaged backgrounds through music, education, and recycling. The initiative, called ...
Read MoreHawaii is the first US state to enact ban on shark fishing
On the first day of the year, January 1st, 2022, Hawaii became the first state in the US to enact a ban on shark ...
Read More
