Plants around schools protect kids from air pollution

UK (CU)_- Plants have always been known to be a health asset, where they provide us with oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, with more people moving from rural areas to urban area plants have become less frequent, however many municipalities across the world have acknowledged their importance and significantly increased plants in public spaces.

Researchers have found further proof of plant significance with the indications that having plants between roads and playgrounds can considerably eliminate vehicle pollution effecting children.

Vehicle pollutants have been linked to a variety of conditions. Children attending primary schools are far more vulnerable to the toxic effects of pollution as they are in the stage where their organs are still in development.

Many major cities have been looking for solutions with air quality severely giving rise to health hazards where some have implemented vehicle reduction measures and the encouragement of the use of public transport. Air pollution with fine particulate matter is said to be responsible for an estimated 6 to 9 million premature deaths per year.

Barbara Maher, Emeritus Professor at Lancaster led the research that was supported by Groundwork Greater Manchester, that helped with the ‘tredges’ which are trees managed as a head-high hedge. The ‘tredges’ were planted in the 2019, summer school holidays.

The study observed 1^st school with ivy screen, the 2nd school with western red cedar, the 3^rd school had western red cedar plus Swedish birch and an inner juniper hedge and the 4^th school was used as the control with no plants.

The results indicated that school with ivy screen saw a big reduction in playground particulate matter levels but an elevation of black carbon and the playground with a mixture of plants saw decreased reductions of air pollution in comparison to red cedar.

The most significant reductions in particulate matter and black carbon were indicated in the school with western red cedar with 49% of black carbon, approximately 46% and 26% of the fine particulates, PM2.5 and PM1 emitted by moving vehicles were absorbed by the western red cedar tredges.

Professor Maher stated that the results demonstrate that school playgrounds can be protected with carefully chosen and managed tredges that absorb pollution particulates.