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Using Portable Samplers to Determine the Effect of Roadside Vegetation on Near-Road Air Quality
Citation:
Brantley, H., G. Hagler, P. Deshmukh, AND R. Baldauf. Using Portable Samplers to Determine the Effect of Roadside Vegetation on Near-Road Air Quality. Presented at NGAM 2, RTP, NC, November 06 - 07, 2012.
Impact/Purpose:
Poster for NGAM 2
Description:
Growing evidence exists that populations spending significant amounts of time near major roads face increased risks for several adverse health effects.1 These effects may be attributable to increased exposure to particulate matter (PM), gaseous criteria pollutants, and air toxics. Roadway design, including the presence of roadside vegetation, may be a means of reducing air pollutant concentrations near roads2. Vegetation in urban areas, particularly trees, can directly remove air pollution and can also provide barriers between sources and exposed populations. Trees remove gaseous air pollution primarily by uptake via leaf stomata, though some gases are removed by the plant surface. Trees also remove pollution by intercepting and diffusing airborne particles. The particles may be re-suspended to the atmosphere, washed off by rain, or dropped to the ground with leaf and twig fall after deposition.3 Consequently, vegetation provides a temporary retention site for many atmospheric particles. This study employed portable, hand-held monitoring devices to investigate the effect of a roadside tree stand on near-road black carbon (BC) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations in Detroit, Michigan.
