Strategic Planting of Plants Between Highways and Playgrounds Can Reduce Air Pollution

New research shows that careful planting of plants between highways and playgrounds can significantly reduce hazardous traffic-derived air pollution reaching schoolchildren.

The new findings show that roadside vegetation may be developed, put, and managed to enhance air quality quickly, significantly, and cost-effectively.

Planting plants on school playgrounds and highways

(Photo : Hussain Badshah/UNsplash)

Traffic-related air pollution has been linked to a variety of health hazards, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological issues, as per ScienceDaily.

Because children's main organs are still growing and they breathe faster than adults, these dangers are likely to be compounded in young children attending primary schools near busy roadways.

Fine particulate matter in air pollution is allegedly the most significant environmental risk factor leading to cardiovascular mortality and illness worldwide, with an estimated six to nine million premature deaths per year.

During the 2019 summer school vacations, a team of academics led by Barbara Maher, Emeritus Professor at Lancaster University, and sponsored by Groundwork Greater Manchester placed 'tredges' at three Manchester primary schools.

One school had an ivy screen, another had western red cedar, and the third had a combination of western red cedar, Swedish birch, and an inner juniper hedge. As a control, the fourth school with no planting was used.

The ivy screen resulted in a significant decrease in playground fine particulates concentrations, but an increase in black carbon. The playground with the mixed planting had smaller reductions in air pollutants than the western red cedar.

The school with the most planted western red cedar had the greatest overall decreases in particle matter and black carbon.

Scientists believe that western red cedar fared best in terms of limiting particle air pollution from reaching the playground because its abundant, tiny, rough, evergreen leaves function as a filter, trapping particulate pollution and keeping it from circulating in the atmosphere.

When it rains, particles wash away and wind up in the soil or drains, allowing the leaves to catch even more particulate pollution.

The researchers believe that the study's advantages are not restricted to schools and that well-selected and managed tredges might be deployed in other portions of metropolitan regions to lessen the harmful health effects of exposure to traffic pollution.

Read more: Air Pollution vs. Ozone Pollution Seesaw: Impacts on Health, Agriculture, Environment, Scientists Warn

Air Pollutants and Their Health Consequences

Poor air quality can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause shortness of breath, worsen asthma and other respiratory disorders, and hurt the heart and circulatory system, as per Spare the Air.

Long durations of breathing contaminated air can lead to more serious diseases.

Children breathe more deeply than adults and are more vulnerable to pollutants. Because their airways are smaller, it takes less inflammation or irritation to restrict them. Children are more active and spend more time outside than adults.

They are also more prone to suffer from asthma or other respiratory disorders, which are exacerbated by pollution.

Older persons may have heart disease, lung illness, or diabetes, which increases their risk. Diabetes patients are at a higher risk because they have a higher risk of underlying cardiovascular disease.

Healthy individuals of all ages who exercise or work hard outside are more vulnerable to air pollution due to their increased exposure.

Exercise encourages people to breathe more quickly and deeply, allowing more air into their lungs. In the event of ozone, the danger of significant consequences is increased in the afternoon.

It is preferable to exercise in the morning or evening when ozone concentrations are likely to be lower.

Related article: Is Air Pollution Deadlier than Climate Change?