--- title: "Using trees to scrub \"toxins\"" description: A recent study found that certain trees remove particles from the air. image: https://arbutustree.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yew-tree-1.png --- [Skip to content](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/using-trees-to-scrub-toxic-particles-from-the-air#main-content) [![ART Logo Text with name - colour-on-wh - NEW](https://arbutustree.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/ART%20Logo%20Text%20with%20name%20-%20colour-on-wh%20-%20NEW.jpg?width=118&height=100&name=ART%20Logo%20Text%20with%20name%20-%20colour-on-wh%20-%20NEW.jpg "ART Logo Text with name - colour-on-wh - NEW")](https://www.arbutustree.ca) - [About](https://arbutustree.ca/about) - [Services](https://arbutustree.ca/services) - [Tips](https://arbutustree.ca/tips) - [Tree Talk](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk) - [Reviews](https://arbutustree.ca/reviews) - [Contact](https://arbutustree.ca/contact) - ![Newsletter](https://hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/26912127/interactive-255213191394.png) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # Using trees to scrub toxic particles from the air by [Admin](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/author/admin) on July 28, 2025 [Air Quality](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/tag/air-quality) [![hedge](https://arbutustree.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yew-tree-300x228-1.png?width=300&height=228&name=yew-tree-300x228-1.png)](https://arbutustree.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/yew-tree-1.png)A recent study found that certain trees remove particles from the air. Birch, the best-performing tree, removed 79 percent of ultrafine particles from the air, while yew and elder each captured around 70 percent. The researchers suggest the ideal species be maintained as hedges, about the height of an adult human. [Learn more about trees as pollutant traps](https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/trees-tested-as-pollutant-traps-65940) Spread the word: [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/using-trees-to-scrub-toxic-particles-from-the-air) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/using-trees-to-scrub-toxic-particles-from-the-air) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/using-trees-to-scrub-toxic-particles-from-the-air) ## Related Articles [![](https://arbutustree.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Breaking-News-Feb-2021.png)](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/1010-2) ### [Breaking News: Palms are out](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/1010-2) Vancouver has just removed Palm trees from the city’s Protection of Trees Bylaw. [Read more…](https://www.arbutustree.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Breaking-news.pdf) by [Admin](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/author/admin) [![](https://arbutustree.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shadetree-1.jpg)](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/fast-growing-shade-trees-vancouver) ### [Top 5 Shade Trees to Cut Your Hydro Bill in Vancouver](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/fast-growing-shade-trees-vancouver) When summer heat strikes in Vancouver, air conditioning often leads to higher Hydro bills.... by [Admin](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/author/admin) [![Planting a tree in a square hole](https://arbutustree.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/square-holes-1.jpg)](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/why-plant-trees-in-square-holes) ### [Why plant trees in square holes](https://arbutustree.ca/tree-talk/why-plant-trees-in-square-holes) Did you know planting trees in square holes makes them grow stronger and faster? 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