Abstract
In this study, we investigated the physiological responses and particulate matter (PM) abatement and adsorption of three plants: Ardisia crenata, Ardisia japonica, and Maesa japonica, to determine their effectiveness as indoor air purification. When compared to control (without plants), PM was significantly and rapidly decreased by all three plants. The reduction in PM varied by species, with A. crenata being the most effective, followed closely by A. japonica, and finally M. japonica. M. japonica showed the highest rate of photosynthesis and transpiration, generating the greatest decrease in CO2 and a large increase in relative humidity. We hypothesize that the increased relative humidity in the chamber acted in a manner similar to a chemical flocculant, increasing the weight of PM via combination with airborne water particles and the creation of larger PM aggregates, resulting in a faster sedimentation rate. A. crenata had a stomatal size of ~20 μm or larger, suggesting that the PM reduction observed in this species was the result of direct absorption. In the continuous fine dust exposure experiments, chlorophyll fluorescence values of all three species were in the normal range. In conclusion, all three species were found to be suitable indoor landscaping plants, effective at reducing indoor PM.
Highlights
Particulate matter (PM) is a first-degree carcinogen as defined by the InternationalAgency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]
The reduction effect in PM1 and PM2.5 was measured at the same time based on the point at which the concentration of PM10 was uniformly diffused in the chamber and stabilized after dust injection (Table 2)
After 8 h, the PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 levels in the control group were found to be ~3, ~6, and ~9 times higher than those in the M. japonica treatment, respectively, indicating that the plants effectively reduced the PM in the chamber
Summary
Particulate matter (PM) is a first-degree carcinogen as defined by the InternationalAgency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. PM is generated by a variety of sources including eolian dust, automobile emissions, factories, and homes, as well as from a large number of other artificial factors [2,3]. PM can cause significant health issues via its ability to enter the human body through the airways, and due to the large particle sizes, this make normal biological elimination difficult. The buildup of both particles and the results of attempted elimination cause respiratory problems such as arteriosclerosis or dementia, and serious diseases such as lung cancer [4]. There has been increased focus on PM of smaller diameters, especially as more current research has shown that the inhalation of smaller PM can result in serious negative health effects [5]
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