Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – A recent study, led by Cambridge University in collaboration with Lancaster University, has reaffirmed the significant benefits of planting hedges between roadsides and school playgrounds in mitigating children’s exposure to traffic-related particle pollution.
This research, which employed an innovative pollution analysis technique involving magnetism, demonstrated that hedges serve as formidable protective barriers against air pollution emanating from busy city roads. They effectively absorb substantial quantities of harmful particles emitted by vehicular traffic.
Using this novel approach, researchers investigated the particle composition captured by a hedge separating a major 6-lane road from a primary school in Manchester, UK. The results revealed that hedges excelled in the removal of ultrafine particle pollution, which poses greater health risks.
Lead author Hassan Sheikh, affiliated with the University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, emphasized the significance of their findings, indicating that their study underscores that hedges offer a straightforward, cost-effective, and efficient means to mitigate exposure to local pollution sources.
The recent study distinguishes itself from conventional air pollution research by specifically quantifying magnetic particles, which originate from vehicle exhaust emissions, as well as the wear and tear of brake pads and tires. This distinctive approach allowed the researchers to discern traffic-related pollution from other sources of atmospheric contaminants.
In England alone, epidemiological investigations suggest that between 26,000 to 38,000 fatalities and numerous admissions to NHS hospitals are associated with fine dust-like particles present in air pollution. A substantial portion of this pollution is generated by heavy traffic in urban settings.
This form of particle pollution, often referred to as particulate matter, comprises a diverse array of chemical compounds, metals, and other substances, some of which possess toxic properties. Larger particles, albeit still minuscule with diameters less than 10 microns (known as PM10), are easily inhaled. Conversely, finer particles, measuring less than 2.5 microns across (PM2.5), can penetrate deeper into the respiratory system and are sufficiently small to enter the bloodstream.
