Benefits of Urban Greenery for Air Filtration

One of the negative effects of living in urban areas is the air pollution from industry and transportation. Pollutants that are released frequently from cars and other carbon-burning technology are called particulate matter (PM). PM is a mixture of solid and liquid chemical particles that float in the air and are often less than 10 micrometers in diameter. 

This particular type of pollution can be quite harmful to humans, and unfortunately, there are high quantities of it in urban centers. However, there are solutions to help lessen the amount of PM in the air. One of these solutions is the integration of living walls and green spaces into urban centers. Plants have the ability to filter PM out of the air over time and deposit it safely into soil and water.

The release of PM into the air causes issues with human health, visibility, and the environment. PM can have devastating effects on the human body and can contribute to respiratory disease and cancer. Along with other pollutants, PM can cause visibility issues in urban centers, which is often described as smog. Lastly, PM in the environment can lead to increased amounts of acid rain, dramatic changes in the chemical composition of water and soil if not deposited properly, and it can harm sensitive species that cannot handle sudden changes in air quality.

Urban greenery placed throughout a dense, urban center can help remediate the issues associated with PM. Air carrying pollutants, like PM, are either pulled in through transpiration or the air naturally pushes it around the plants leaves through surface wind patterns; air moves along or through the plants, and the PM is trapped on the plant’s stomata or within the plant itself.

Particles of PM and other pollutants stay on the leaf until they are absorbed by the plant, effectively stored in the plant and then eventually the soil, or are washed away by precipitation or wind. If the pollution is washed away by precipitation, PM can either be carried to a water source through stormwater runoff, or it can be stored in soil as water itself is absorbed into the soil. 

PM is a harmful pollutant that can be captured by urban greenery. Living walls, gardens, and green spaces can be placed strategically through urban centers to improve air quality and improve public health!