Wonderful Trees: They Capture Pollution

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Breathing is for survival so air pollution matters. Recent studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that air pollution kills more people than AIDS and malaria combined and causes cancer. Though a lot of progress has been made, but some others are still quite bad (especially in the Middle-East and Asia).

 

We always knew that trees are good air filters, but it’s been hard to say just how much. One new study from Lancaster University tried to quantify the amount. What they found is quite interesting, and one more reason to hug a tree today!

The scientists started by measuring how much air pollution go into a certain number of houses in Lancaster using dust monitoring devices and by swiping surfaces and then analysing what was collected. The team then placed a screen of 30 young silver birch trees in wooden planters in front of four of the houses, including one of the control houses, for 13 days. Wipes from all eight houses showed that ones with the tree screens had 52 to 65% lower concentrations of metallic particles, and showed  a 50% reduction in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 in the house with the trees in front.

 

By examining the silver birch leaves, the researchers confirmed that the hairy surfaces of the leaves trapped metallic particles. These metallic particles are most likely the product of combustion and from vehicles passing by.

 

So when do we start planting trees everywhere? Not that we needed this study to tell us that it’s a good idea, but it does not harm to add some evidence on top of the knowledge we already know.


Smoke Cabin

Smoke Cabin

Smoke Solution develops a set of efficient filtering system that can remove most of the airborne pollutants. There is an automatic motion sensor installed in each of the cabin and alternatively regulates the speed of the filtering system according to the movement inside the cabin. For their filters, Smoke Solution uses its own produced CO 2 neutral coconut charcoal. The harvest of the coconut shells is in a sustainable manner, without posing any harm to palm trees, animal habitats or the environment.

The ashtrays of the smoking cabins are fireproof and self-extinguishable. Lighted cigarette thrown into the ashtray will be extinguished and thus remove the risk of fire. Smoke cabins are modular and freestanding, they can be resized and relocated to fit in different locations, and follow the user patterns.



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