Trees have been called the lungs of the planet for good reason. They play a vital role in helping to control air pollution by taking in carbon dioxide, storing the carbon and releasing oxygen during photosynthesis. Trees are the real workhorses in this department. And all too often, I think, we take the functionality of trees for granted. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, trees absorb enough carbon dioxide on each acre, over a year’s time, to equal the amount you produce when you drive your car 26,000 miles.
In addition, tree leaves remove from the atmosphere harmful substances such as nitrogen oxides, airborne ammonia, some sulfur dioxide and ozone. At the same time, they’re cooling the air by releasing water vapor through their leaves in a process known as transpiration. Trees also serve as collection sites for dust and harmful man-made particulates so they can be washed to the ground and filtered by the earth.
