Simulating the potential of trees to reduce particulate matter pollution in urban areas throughout the year

Particulate matter pollution, especially in an urban environment, is a health risk that affects many people, and the current trend shows that these problems will increase in the near future. To combat this form of air pollution, many different strategies and policies are investigated: from reducing the emission of particulate matter to finding ways of filtering the air. In this study, we explore the idea of using trees in an urban area to reduce particulate matter concentration. Since the absorption of fine dust by trees is a complex problem, influenced by many factors, we use a computer model to simulate the effect of various trees throughout the year to find the optimal candidate. We find that coniferous trees have a significant advantage, since they also absorb during the winter months, where the air quality is worse. We also conclude that a large enough area of a well-suited tree species is a feasible way to increase air quality and in some cases even to reduce the particulate matter pollution to an acceptable level.