How Trees Help Protect Us from Microplastics and Related Health Risks Microplastics—tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 mm—are now found in the air we breathe, our drinking water, our food, and even inside the human body. Recent studies show microplastics in human lungs, blood, placentas, and arterial plaque , raising serious concerns about long-term health effects. While this issue can feel overwhelming, nature provides a powerful defense: trees . These living air filters

Tree-Canopy Neglect Is a HEAL Act Equity Violation Washington’s senior population is facing a silent mental-health crisis—one that is unfolding not in hospitals, but in neighborhoods stripped of trees. As urban development spreads and canopy coverage declines, thousands of older adults are being left in hotter, harsher, and more isolating environments. This isn’t just an environmental setback; it is a public-health failure and, more importantly, a potential violation of state

The Powerful Link Between Urban Greenery and Respiratory Health Respiratory illnesses—including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infections—are on the rise in many communities, driven by air pollution, heat, and environmental stress. While public health solutions often focus on medicine and technology, a natural and highly effective intervention is frequently overlooked: trees . Extensive scientific research shows that urban trees are vita