All people deserve the lifesaving benefits that trees provide, especially in polluted urban and industrial areas. The trees in and around North SeaTac Park, a 200+ acre urban oasis next door to SeaTac Airport, protect residents from harmful airport impacts by:
Cooling homes and neighborhoods
Quieting noise pollution and reducing its impact
Protecting natural bodies of water and their wildlife from polluted city runoff
Reducing air pollution that causes higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
Reducing stress and supporting mental health
Enhancing cognitive development and function
Absorbing climate disrupting pollutants
Decreasing flooding
Protecting and enhancing property values
Reducing energy demands for cooling buildings
The presence of trees is also associated with reductions in crime.
Click on the image to see the full factsheet with citations
Trees are a pathway to creating social equity, and the inequitable distribution of trees exacerbates social inequities.
The social healing properties of trees are especially important near SeaTac International Airport, where residents, according to a study by Public Health Seattle & King County, live in neighborhoods with “very low equity” when it comes to health and income. Research shows that trees, particularly conifers, capture ultrafine pollutants from airport operations, keeping them out of lungs and homes.
Public Health Seattle & King County recommends increasing trees and green space coverage near the airport to reduce human exposure to these pollutants.
Click on the image to see the full factsheet with citations. Una versión en español está disponible aquí
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