Estimating the reduction of urban PM.sub.10 concentrations by trees within an environmental information system for planners

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.007 Byline: W.J. Bealey (a), A.G. McDonald (a), E. Nemitz (a), R. Donovan (b), U. Dragosits (a), T.R. Duffy (c), D. Fowler (a) Keywords: Air pollution; Particulates; Land use planning Abstract: Trees have been widely quoted as effective scavengers of both gaseous and particulate pollutants from the atmosphere. Recent work on the deposition of urban aerosols onto woodland allows the effect of tree planting strategies on airborne aerosol concentrations to be quantified and considered within the planning process. By identifying the potential planting locations in the local authority area, and applying them within a dispersion and deposition model, the potential magnitude of reduction in the ambient concentration of PM.sub.10, achievable through urban tree planting, has been quantified for two UK cities. As part of the Environmental Information Systems for Planners (EISP), flow diagrams, based on planning decisions, have incorporated output from the model to make decisions on land use planning ranging from development plans and strategic planning, to development control. In this way, for any new developments that contribute to the local PM.sub.10 level, the mitigation by planting trees can be assessed, and in some cases, reductions can be sufficient to meet air quality objectives for PM.sub.10. Author Affiliation: (a) Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK (b) School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK (c) British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA, UK Article History: Received 25 April 2005; Revised 24 May 2006; Accepted 13 July 2006