Anti pollution figureheads
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14/04/1997
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Down To Earth
Plants control air pollution by taking in carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. A peepal tree with a crown spread of 162 sq km releases 1,712 kg of oxygen and absorbs 2,252 kg of CO 2 per hour.
Trees not only mechanically stop smoke and dust from reaching us, but also act as sinks of many noxious gases, thus purifying the air.
A 500 metre-wide green area can reduce the concentration of SO 2 by 70 per cent and that of NO 2 by 67 per cent.
A fully-grown tree can absorb the pollution generated by a car running for 25,000 km.
If an air mass containing 150 parts per million of ozone were to be suspended over a forest area for eight hours, the vegetation would absorb 80 per cent of the ozone.
Trees not only mechanically stop smoke and dust from reaching us, but also act as sinks of many noxious gases, thus purifying the air.
A 500 metre-wide green area can reduce the concentration of SO 2 by 70 per cent and that of NO 2 by 67 per cent.
A fully-grown tree can absorb the pollution generated by a car running for 25,000 km.
If an air mass containing 150 parts per million of ozone were to be suspended over a forest area for eight hours, the vegetation would absorb 80 per cent of the ozone.