As Delhi grapples with yet another harrowing bout of air pollution, the city finds itself ensnared in a thick blanket of toxic smog, pushing its air quality index to alarming levels again. With readings skyrocketing to 100 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit, the severity of the situation has prompted drastic measures, including school closures and restrictions on construction activities. In the face of this crisis, the urgent need for effective solutions to combat air pollution has never been more evident.
Planners and designers are reimagining cityscapes with verdant green corridors and tree-lined boulevards, weaving greenery seamlessly into the urban fabric. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to clean up contaminated soil and water, or phylloremediation to clean polluted air, are well-researched, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions to combat pollution. Planting certain species, like the Ixora spp and Tecoma stans , one can create a natural air-purifying barrier, absorbing harmful substances such as hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds.
Recent studies have shown that plants rich in ascorbic acid, like the mighty pipal and mango trees, are particularly effective at combating the adverse effects of pollution. Plant roots also play a crucial role in breaking down toxins, transforming harmful pollutants into less detrimental forms. An avenue trees corridor.
| Photo Credit:Getty Images/iStockphoto Imagine, one tree can provide enough oxygen for four pe.