WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- Trees breathe by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. As they help keep our air well supplied with oxygen, they also filter it, removing pollution as they respirate.
By removing toxins and particulates from the air, trees are saving lives, scientists with the U.S. Forest Service say. According to a new study by USFS ecologists and collaborators, the pollution-removing qualities of trees save approximately 850 human lives a year, prevent roughly 670,000 cases of acute respiratory symptoms and save some $7 billion. The study -- the first of its kind -- was published last week in the journal Environmental Pollution.