Particulate Matter and Trace Metal Retention Capacities of Six Tree Species: Implications for Improving Urban Air Quality

Weikang Zhang, Yu Li, Qiaochu Wang, Tong Zhang, Huan Meng, Jialian Gong and Zhi Zhang ()
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Weikang Zhang: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Yu Li: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Qiaochu Wang: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Tong Zhang: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Huan Meng: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Jialian Gong: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
Zhi Zhang: Landscape Planning Laboratory, Department of Landscape Architecture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: As effective filters for natural particulate matter (PM), plants play an important role in the reduction of PM, thus improving air quality. However, research on the relationship between leaf functional traits and PM retention capacity in different polluted environments remains limited. In this study, six tree species ( Abies holophylla , Pinus tabuliformis , Juniperus chinensis , Populus berolinensis, Salix babylonica , Robinia pseudoacacia ) in Shenyang city, China were selected as research objects to analyze their PM retention capacity in three different polluted environments (i.e., a busy road, an industrial area of the urban center, and a green space). Additionally, we determined the composition of trace elements associated with the different polluted environments; we also evaluated the impact of different polluted environments on leaf surface traits. The results showed that the actual amounts of PM and trace elements that accumulated on leaf surfaces differed considerably between pollution sites and plant species. The greatest accumulation of PM 10 and PM 2.5 deposited on the leaves of tested plants was at a traffic-related pollution site and the smallest accumulation was at a park site. There were significant differences in the PM 10 and PM 2.5 retention capacities of leaves among the different tree species ( p < 0.05), in the following order: Abies holophylla > Pinus tabuliformis > Juniperus chinensis > Populus berolinensis > Salix babylonica > Robinia pseudoacacia . The average PM 10 and PM 2.5 accumulation amounts of Abies holophylla were 1.28–8.74 times higher than these of the other plants ( p < 0.05). Trace element analysis showed that the elemental composition of PM accumulated on leaf surfaces was location-dependent. In conclusion, a highly polluted environment can increase the average groove width, stomatal density, and roughness compared to a low-polluted environment. In contrast, the average value of contact angle is higher at low-pollution sites than at other sites. These results suggest that Abies holophylla is the most suitable greening tree species and that its widespread use could significantly reduce PM pollution in urban environments.

Keywords: air pollution; particulate matter; tree leaves; contact angle; stomatal density (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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