Air pollution abatement from Green-Blue-Grey infrastructure
Kumar P. Corada K. Debele S.E. Emygdio A.P.M. Abhijith K.V. Hassan H. Broomandi P. Baldauf R. Calvillo N. Cao S.-J. Desrivières S. Feng Z. Gallagher J. Kjeldsen T.R. Khan A.A. Khare M. Kota S.H. Li B. Malham S.K. McNabola A. Namdeo A. Nema A.K. Reis S. Nagendra S.M.S. Tiwary A. Vardoulakis S. Wenk J. Wang F. Wang J. Woolf D. Yao R. Jones L.
10 December 2024Innovation Press
Innovation Geoscience
2024#2Issue 4
Green-blue-grey infrastructure (GBGI) offers environmental benefits in urban areas, yet its impact on air pollution is under-researched, and the literature fragmented. This review evaluates quantitative studies on GBGIs capability to mitigate air pollution, compares their specific pollutant removal processes, and identifies areas for further investigation. Of the 51 GBGI types reviewed, only 22 provided quantitative pollution reduction data. Street trees and mixed-GBGI are the most studied GBGIs, with efficacy influenced by wind, GBGI type vegetation characteristics, and urban morphology. Negative percentages denote worsening air quality, while positive reflect improvement. The 22 different GBGI grouped into eight main categories provide an average (± s.d.) reduction in air pollution of 16 ± 21%, with substantial reduction shown by linear features (23 ± 21%), parks (22 ± 34%), constructed GI (14 ± 25%), and other non-sealed urban areas (14 ± 20%). Other individual GBGI reducing air pollutants include woodlands (21 ± 38%), hedges (14 ± 25%), green walls (14 ± 27%), shrubland (12 ± 20%), green roofs (13 ± 23%), parks (9±36%), and mixed-GBGI (7 ± 23 %). On average, GBGI reduced PM1, PM2.5, PM10, UFP and BC by 13 ± 21%, 1 ± 25%, 7 ± 42%, 27 ± 27%, and 16 ± 41%, respectively. GBGI also lowered gaseous pollutants CO, O3 and NOx by 10 ± 21%, 7 ± 21%, and 12 ± 36%, on average, respectively. Linear (e.g., street trees and hedges) and constructed (e.g., green walls) features can impact local air quality, positively or negatively, based on the configuration and density of the built environment. Street trees generally showed adverse effects in street canyons and beneficial outcomes in open-road conditions. Climate change could worsen air pollution problems and impact GBGI effectiveness by shifting climate zones. In Europe and China, climate shifts are anticipated to affect 8 of the 22 GBGIs, with the rest expected to remain resilient. Despite GBGIs potential to enhance air quality, the meta-analysis highlights the need for a standardised reporting structure or to enable meaningful comparisons and effectively integrate findings into urban pollution and climate strategies.
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Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
School of Architecture, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou, Nanjing, 210096, China
Sustainability Research Institute, University of East London, London, E16 2RD, United Kingdom
School of Natural Sciences & Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, H91TK33, Ireland
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, 27703, United States
Office of Transportation and Air Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ann Arbor, 48105, United States
Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
TrinityHaus Research Centre, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, D02 PN40, Ireland
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Department of Environment, Government of Delhi, Delhi, 110006, India
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), New Delhi, 110016, India
Joint International Research Laboratory of Green Buildings and Built Environments, School of the Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5 AB, United Kingdom
Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QB, United Kingdom
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Chennai, 600036, India
School of Engineering and Sustainable Development, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, United Kingdom
HEAL Global Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, Bruce, 2617, ACT, Australia
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
Wirth Research Ltd, Charlotte Avenue Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX27 8BL, United Kingdom
School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6BU, United Kingdom
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, United Kingdom
Liverpool Hope University, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Hope Park, Liverpool, L16 9JD, United Kingdom
Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE)
Institute for Sustainability
Department of Civil
School of Architecture
Sustainability Research Institute
School of Natural Sciences & Ryan Institute
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Office of Research and Development
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies
Social
TrinityHaus Research Centre
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Delhi Pollution Control Committee
Department of Civil Engineering
Joint International Research Laboratory of Green Buildings and Built Environments
School of Ocean Sciences
Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Department of Civil Engineering
School of Engineering and Sustainable Development
HEAL Global Research Centre
State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wirth Research Ltd
School of the Built Environment
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Liverpool Hope University
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