Improving air quality with trees

A new Swedish study led by the University of Gothenburg with the collaboration of Gothenburg Botanical Garden and Lund University found that trees can absorb harmful pollutants improving surrounding air quality.

The researchers measured pollutants in the air and compared them with pollutants on the leaves of the Pin Oak and the needles of Black Pine conifers in 7 urban settings around Gothenburg. The study showed that the trees were absorbing the pollutants and improving the quality of the surrounding air. The researchers focused on PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) pollutants that are produced during the incomplete combustion of organic materials including oil, petrol, coal and wood.