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Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure and Air Quality Impacts

These resources examine the mechanisms through which green infrastructure positively affects air quality, the magnitude of these effects, and their value to communities.

Baldauf, R. Recommendations for Constructing Roadside Vegetation Barriers to Improve Near-Road Air Quality. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-16/072, 2016.

Currie, B. A., and B. Bass. 2008. Estimates of air pollution mitigation with green plants and green roofs using the UFORE model Exit. Urban Ecosystems 11(4):409–422.

Escobedo, F. J., and D. J. Nowak. 2009. Spatial heterogeneity and air pollution removal by an urban forest Exit. Landscape and Urban Planning 90:102–110.

Nowak, D., D. Crane, and J. Stevens. 2006. Air pollution removal by urban trees and shrubs in the United States Exit. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 4(3-4):115–123.


Nowak, D. J., and G. M. Heisler. 2010. Air Quality Effects of Urban Trees and Parks (PDF)(48 pp, 6.6 MB, About PDFExit. National Recreation and Park Association, Ashburn, VA.

Scott, K. I., J. R. Simpson, and E. G. McPherson. 1999. Effects of tree cover on parking lot microclimate and vehicle emissions (PDF)(14 pp, 281 K, About PDFExit. Journal of Arboriculture 25(3).