Roles of Vegetation on Air Quality Management and PM2.5 Mitigation Bang Chalong National Housing Authority Project Amphoe Bang Phli, Samutprakarn

Abstract

PM2.5 has been the cause of critical urban environmental problems during the past decade. Although there is a wide range of research on air pollution mitigation strategies using trees and urban forests, there are other factors that can mitigate high PM2.5. The air pollution problem is unperceivable and even though the health impact from PM2.5 is severe, it is not sudden which makes it difficult to bring it to public awareness. Especially in low-income neighborhoods or public housing projects where environmental injustices are perpetual, how can we create a green areas design guideline for green communities where green spaces do not merely provide an aesthetic function but also serve ecological functions and improve health and wellbeing? The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between green spaces and air pollution. The research consists of two parts. First, the study compares the air quality data, focusing on PM2.5, with green area ratio and leaf volumes in selected locations. By installing 20 air quality monitoring sensors at different locations in Bang Chalong National Housing Authority Project, PM 2.5 data were collected during the months of highest PM 2.5 levels. The second part is to examine the residents’ perception of air pollution, their understanding on the effect of vegetation on air quality management and PM2.5 mitigations and the relationships between green spaces, vegetation, and air pollution.