Quantifying the impact of urban trees on air quality in Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Atmospheric pollution threatens human health worldwide, with tropospheric ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (PM) among the most harmful pollutants. Urban trees can reduce the concentration of air pollutants through dry deposition on their canopies and stomatal uptake. At the same time, urban trees can deteriorate air quality by emitting aerosol- and O₃ precursors in the form of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). O₃ and PM removal, and BVOC emissions vary depending on the tree species. Therefore, the diversity and spatial distribution of urban trees significantly influence their impact on local air quality. This study employs a dual approach to assess and map the impact of urban trees on air quality in Geneva, Switzerland. Firstly, we use the i-Tree Eco model combined with a tree inventory (237,191 trees) to quantify BVOC emissions and PM₁₀ (PM < 10 µm) and O₃ removal at the genus level. Secondly, we develop a species-level parameterization using 51 common urban tree species to estimate the same variables and ozone-forming potential (OFP). Results show that the tree density is heterogeneous in the study area, leading to neighborhoods with greater biomass and, therefore, stronger influence by trees on local air quality. According to i-Tree Eco, urban trees in Geneva emitted 50 t of BVOCs, while removing 14 t of PM₁₀ and 52 t of O₃ in 2014. With the species-level parametrization, we estimate that urban trees removed about 66 ± 55 t of PM₁₀ and 150 ± 96 t of O₃ in 2014. However, they could also emit about 130 ± 52 t of BVOCs annually, which, under favorable conditions, can form 1153 ± 519 t of O₃. Depending on the method, urban trees removed between 4 and 19 % of the anthropogenic PM₁₀ emissions. The annual removal rates are comparable to findings in other European cities. The disparities between the two approaches are due to different parameterizations. This study could help urban planners to select adequate species for future planting programs in Geneva and more generally. It showed that the impact of urban trees on air quality is spatially heterogeneous but significant, and tightly linked to the species composition.