Study Finds Trees Drive Air Pollution in Downtown LA

A groundbreaking study led by the University of California, Berkley, has revealed that urban tree canopies in Los Angeles are contributing to high air pollution levels despite reductions in vehicle emissions. The research highlights the impact of urban trees on pollution levels, with California’s 173 million urban canopy identified as a hidden source of pollution. Dr. Pfannerstill warns that rising temperatures escalate biogenic terpenoid emissions, contributing to ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento.