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The reasoning seems so simple that it is almost taken for granted: trees absorb CO\u2082 and other harmful substances, while releasing oxygen.<\/p>\n
For this reason, planting as many trees as possible in cities is considered a natural way to improve air quality.<\/p>\n
A new study published in the journal Science Advances does not contradict this principle, but shows that when planning urban greening, factors of others. This is because trees also produce and release into the atmosphere some substances that, under certain conditions, can contribute to air pollution.<\/p>\n
The study, conducted by researchers at Jinan University in China, focused on so-called volatile organic compounds of biological origin, known as BVOCs. They are created through biological processes and trees are one of their main sources.<\/p>\n
Similar substances are also released by human activities, such as the use of solvents, paints and cleaning products, and in this case they are called volatile organic compounds of anthropogenic origin.<\/p>\n
The problem lies in the way these substances react in the atmosphere. In the presence of sunlight and nitrogen oxides, they can cause chemical reactions that lead to the formation of ozone near the earth’s surface.<\/p>\n
Ozone in the upper atmosphere is useful because it protects us from ultraviolet radiation. But when it accumulates near the ground, it is a dangerous pollutant.<\/p>\n
Exposure to high levels of ozone can cause respiratory problems, damage the cardiovascular system and have other health consequences.<\/p>\n
It is precisely for this reason that in recent decades human sources of compounds that contribute to the formation of ozone have been increasingly limited.<\/p>\n
But Chinese researchers raised another question: can a part fade of this benefit from the trees themselves, if species that release large amounts of these substances are planted?<\/p>\n
To understand this, researchers analyzed the chemical composition of the air in Beijing in real time, analyzing the “breathing” of the city during the period from May to July 2021.<\/p>\n
The data analysis took about five years, and the results showed that the choice of tree type may matter more than It was thought.<\/p>\n
The compounds released by vegetation accounted for only about 10 percent of the total volatile organic compounds present in the air, but they were much more reactive than substances of artificial origin.<\/p>\n
Among them, the most problematic was isoprene, a compound that plays a particularly large role in the chemical reactions that lead to the formation of ozone.<\/p>\n
When the researchers analyzed Beijing’s vegetation, they found that some of the trees most used in the city, including willows and poplars, are among the biggest isoprene releasers.<\/p>\n
This means that a tree can be beneficial in many aspects to the environment, but in a city with high levels of pollution it can inadvertently contribute to the creation of another pollutant.<\/p>\n
Comparison with European cities made this phenomenon more visible. In many of them, the most common tree species do not release isoprene in the same way, and ground-level ozone levels are lower than in Beijing.<\/p>\n
However, the researchers do not say that we should stop planting trees or cut down existing trees just because they belong to a certain species.<\/p>\n
Rather, the conclusion is more practical: it is not enough to plant trees; you have to choose the right trees for the right place.<\/p>\n
This is especially important when planning new parks, green corridors and public spaces, but also when an old or damaged tree needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n
In the fight against air pollution, urban greenery remains an important ally, but science is showing that even in this case the quantity is not enough: the type of greenery we choose also matters. tesheshi.com<\/p>\n
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