Trees may help cut asthma attacks

A new study published in the journal Environment International analysed data on hospital admissions, urban greenery and air pollution.  The results suggested that individuals living in areas with the most trees had fewer severe asthma attacks (those needing hospital admissions).  The study found that even when an area is polluted there are still less hospital admissions due to asthma attacks when the area is lined by trees. 

The researchers analysed 15 years worth of data from 26,000 towns and cities across England.  This study alone cannot prove that trees caused this effect but the researchers believe the size of the study is significant and hope it could have implications for public policy.

NOTE:  The National Audit Office recently released a report showing that 85% of the UK’s “clean air zones” are in breach of legal air pollution limits.