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Experts have identified a ‘super-plant’ commonly used in the United Kingdom can help absorb pollution on congested roads.
Scientists at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) studied the effectiveness of hedges to absorb air pollution and compared different types of shrubs.
They found that the super-plant was at least 20 percent more effective at absorbing pollution from busy roads compared to other shrubs, although it did not make a difference in the quieter streets. As per the experts, a one-meter section of a dense shrub is able to absorb hundreds of miles of car pollution in just one week.
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Lead researcher Dr. Tijana Planosa said, “We know that in just seven days, a dense, one-meter-long, well-managed hedge will remove the same amount of pollution that a vehicle emits at a distance of 500 miles.”
She said the cotoneaster would be ideal for planting along busy roads in hot pollution areas, while in other areas where encouraging nature is key, a mixture of species is recommended.
The study forms part of RHS’s work to mitigate environmental issues such as air pollution, floods, and heatwaves, and to advance the benefits of parks and green spaces.
