Allison R. Bodine

Tree and forest effects on air quality and human health in the United States

Trees remove air pollution by the interception of particulate matter on plant surfaces and the absorption of gaseous pollutants through the leaf stomata. However, the magnitude and value of the effects of trees and forests on air quality and human health across the United States remains unknown. Computer simulations with local environmental data reveal that trees and forests in the conterminous United States removed 17.4 million tonnes (t) of air pollution in 2010 (range: 9.0-23.2 million t), with human health effects valued at 6.8 billion U.S. dollars (range:

Modeled PM2.5 removal by trees in ten U.S. cities and associated health effects.

1.5-13.0 billion). This pollution removal equated to an average air quality improvement of less than one percent. Most of the pollution removal occurred in rural areas, while most of the health impacts and values were within urban areas. Health impacts included the avoidance of more than 850 incidences of human mortality and 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms.

Assessing urban forest effects and values: Toronto's urban forest

Urban particulate air pollution is a serious health issue. Trees within cities can remove fine particles from the atmosphere and consequently improve air quality and human health. Tree effects on PM2.5 concentrations and human health are modeled for 10 U.S. cities. The total amount of PM2.5 removed annually by trees varied from 4.7 tonnes in Syracuse to 64.5 tonnes in Atlanta, with annual values varying from

Urban trees and forests of the Chicago region

1.1 million in Syracuse to

Austin's Urban Forest, 2014

60.1 million in New York City. Most of these values were from the effects of reducing human mortality. Mortality reductions were typically around 1 person yr(-1) per city, but were as high as 7.6 people yr(-1) in New York City. Average annual percent air quality improvement ranged between 0.05% in San Francisco and 0.24% in Atlanta. Understanding the impact of urban trees on air quality can lead to improved urban forest management strategies to sustain human health in cities.

Chicago Wilderness region urban forest vulnerability assessment and synthesis: a report from the Urban Forestry Climate Change Response Framework Chicago Wilderness pilot project

An analysis of trees in Toronto, Ontario, reveals that this city has about 10.2 million trees with a tree and shrub canopy that covers approximately 26.6 percent of the city. The most common tree species are eastern white-cedar, sugar maple, and Norway maple. The urban forest currently stores an estimated 1.1 million metric tons of carbon valued at CAD

Assessing Urban Forest Effects and Values: Douglas County, Kansas

25.0 million. In addition, these trees remove about 46,700 metric tons of carbon per year (CAD

Assessing urban forest effects and values: the greater Kansas City region

1.1 million per year) and about 1,905 metric tons of air pollution per year (CAD

Urban forest structure, ecosystem services and change in Syracuse, NY

16.9 million per year). Trees in Toronto are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by CAD

Author's response to letter by Whitlow et al.

9.7 million per year. The compensatory value is estimated at CAD