title: Tree and forest effects on air quality and human health in the United States.
abstract: 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: $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.
authors.affiliation: USDA Forest Service, 5 Moon Library, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. Electronic address: dnowak@fs.fed.us.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.affiliation: The Davey Institute, 5 Moon Library, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirabayashi
authors.affiliation: The Davey Institute, 5 Moon Library, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodine
authors.affiliation: USDA Forest Service, 5 Moon Library, SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greenfield
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D011634:Public Health; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Air pollution removal; Air quality; Ecosystem services; Human mortality; Urban forests