Exploring the Role of Urban Green Spaces in Mitigating the Negative Health Effects of Air Pollution on Wildlife Respiratory Health

Abstract

Urban air pollution, also a significant issue in the world, is a contributor to the number of respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and damaged lung function. The urban green space (UGS) is becoming a more and more popular source of nature-based solutions to the decrease in pollutant concentration and to improve the resilience of population health. This paper is a synthesis of the most recent evidence (2017-2025) to review the alleviating effect of UGS on the negative respiratory impact of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The review assesses the pollutant-removal processes, space design features, climatic factors, and exposure-response associations and combines the results of the epidemiological, ecological, and atmospheric modeling studies. The findings show that UGS is capable of decreasing the percentage of PM by 10-40 % based on vegetation type, canopy structure, and urban morphology. Moreover, the population residing close to high-quality green spaces exhibits fewer respiratory symptoms and elevated lung functioning performance, especially in children and the aging population. The mediation analysis indicates that it is likely that pollution reduction is a major percentage of the health benefits. UGS also provides important benefits for wildlife health, particularly for species that are sensitive to air quality changes. The improvement of urban green spaces can help support the respiratory health of local wildlife populations, reduce the exposure of animals to pollutants, and provide habitats for species affected by urbanization. Nevertheless, some types of vegetation can contribute to the increase of VOCs, which exacerbate the ozone formation, and, therefore, careful selection of species is necessary. Through this review, a conceptual model and evidence-based recommendations have been provided on how urban green space should be designed to maximize the respiratory health benefits.