Poor air quality, especially due to particulate matter (PM), remains a major concern in urban are-as due to its impact on premature human deaths. This concern is addressed by the revised Air Quality Directive and amendments to the European Environmental Economic Accounts Regulation, aiming to improve air quality and monitor PM levels and dry deposition by vegetation. In this re-search, we develop a combined biophysical and monetary method to model air purification by vegetation across European urban areas. PM10 dry deposition is used as a proxy for this ecosystem service. The method is tested for the year 2018. For the biophysical valuation, we use a mechanistic model based on the electrical resistance analogy, along with earth observation data from Copernicus Services, to estimate the flow of PM10 deposited over time. This flow, together with boundary layer height data, allows estimation of changes in atmospheric PM10 levels (μg/m3) attributable to vegetation. Using dose-response functions, changes in PM10 levels estimate annual variation in mean population exposure to PM10 and the risk of premature human deaths across Eu-rope. The economic valuation employs a Value Transfer approach. We use a Meta-analysis func-tion transfer to predict the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) as a measure of willingness to pay for mortality risk reduction. The VSL welfare estimate is adjusted using the cost of illness approach. Initial results illustrate that in some countries (e.g., Austria, Poland), vegetation's capacity to filter PM10 is limited during high pollution periods. In contrast, other countries (e.g., Greece, Spain) show a better match. Notably, southern Nordic areas, with lower atmospheric PM10 levels, exhibit higher air purification capacity and are better equipped to meet future stricter thresholds pro-posed in the revised EU Air Quality Directive. This method helps to evaluate the effectiveness of urban vegetation as air-purifying nature-based solutions across European urban areas.
Biophysical and monetary modelling of air filtration by urban vegetation across Europe
Babi Almenar;
2024-01-01
Abstract
Poor air quality, especially due to particulate matter (PM), remains a major concern in urban are-as due to its impact on premature human deaths. This concern is addressed by the revised Air Quality Directive and amendments to the European Environmental Economic Accounts Regulation, aiming to improve air quality and monitor PM levels and dry deposition by vegetation. In this re-search, we develop a combined biophysical and monetary method to model air purification by vegetation across European urban areas. PM10 dry deposition is used as a proxy for this ecosystem service. The method is tested for the year 2018. For the biophysical valuation, we use a mechanistic model based on the electrical resistance analogy, along with earth observation data from Copernicus Services, to estimate the flow of PM10 deposited over time. This flow, together with boundary layer height data, allows estimation of changes in atmospheric PM10 levels (μg/m3) attributable to vegetation. Using dose-response functions, changes in PM10 levels estimate annual variation in mean population exposure to PM10 and the risk of premature human deaths across Eu-rope. The economic valuation employs a Value Transfer approach. We use a Meta-analysis func-tion transfer to predict the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) as a measure of willingness to pay for mortality risk reduction. The VSL welfare estimate is adjusted using the cost of illness approach. Initial results illustrate that in some countries (e.g., Austria, Poland), vegetation's capacity to filter PM10 is limited during high pollution periods. In contrast, other countries (e.g., Greece, Spain) show a better match. Notably, southern Nordic areas, with lower atmospheric PM10 levels, exhibit higher air purification capacity and are better equipped to meet future stricter thresholds pro-posed in the revised EU Air Quality Directive. This method helps to evaluate the effectiveness of urban vegetation as air-purifying nature-based solutions across European urban areas.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
