Trees leaves can capture 50%+ of particulate matter pollution

Recent studies by the World Health Organization have shown that air pollution kills more people than AIDS and malaria combined and causes cancer.

We were aware trees being good air filters but it’s been difficult to quantify how much air they can filter. A new study from Lancaster University, U.K. have done so.

The scientists started by measuring how much air pollution got into a certain number of houses in Lancaster using dust monitoring devices and by swiping surfaces and then analyzing what was collected.

On examining the silver birch leaves with a scanning electron microscope, they confirmed that the hairy surfaces of the leaves trapped metallic particles. The particles measured inside the houses are metallic particles most likely the product of combustion and brake wear from vehicles passing by.