Central parks as air quality oases in the tropical Andean city of Quito

Central parks in Quito, Ecuador, serve as temporary air quality oases amid high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), but their protective effect is limited to the park's interior. Research found hazardous PM2.5 concentrations on the edges of parks along busy avenues—frequented by pedestrians—highlighting short- and long-term health risks from traffic pollution in urban recreational spaces, particularly in cities of the global south. The study used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to model PM2.5 spatial distribution, successfully predicting concentrations in a smaller park, suggesting potential for broader urban applications. While promising, further validation is needed to ensure its effectiveness across diverse cityscapes.

Zalakeviciute, R., Bonilla Bedoya, S., Mejia Coronel, D., Bastidas, M., Buenano, A., & Diaz-Marquez, A. (2024). Central parks as air quality oases in the tropical Andean city of Quito. Atmospheric Environment: X, 21, 100239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeaoa.2024.100239