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Selective retention of particulate matter by nine plant species in central Shanxi Province, China

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Abstract

Plant leaves can accumulate particulate matter (PM) from the air, thus mitigating air pollution. Nine plant species from the central part of Shanxi Province, China, were investigated to characterize differences in their PM retention capacity and the grain sizes of the collected PM. Styphnolobium japonicum, Syringa oblata, and Cerasus serrulata demonstrated strong retention capacity for PM particles of diverse size fractions. Philadelphus incanus, Viburnum opulus, and Yulania biondii had relatively weak retention capacity for overall and fine PM. Generally, species with smaller leaves and roughness surfaces, waxy leaves, or leaves with hair had strong PM retention capacity. Leaves with suitable groove widths better retained fine PM. Foliar dust observed on leaves presented multimodal distribution curves, including bimodal, trimodal, and four-peak distributions, which differed from the trimodal distribution of natural dustfall. The different PM retention capacities of the nine investigated species and the differing grain sizes between foliar dust and atmospheric dustfall indicated that plant leaves could selectively retain PM. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the use of the plant to mitigate particulate air pollution.

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Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of Shanxi Province, China (Grant No. 201801D221043).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, Shanxi, China

    Lishuai Xu, Qian Yan, Liwen Liu & Yonghong Duan

  2. School of History and Geography, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, 363000, Fujian, China

    Yongchong Lin

  3. College of Urban and Rural Construction, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, Shanxi, China

    Zhilei Zhen

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  1. Lishuai Xu
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  2. Qian Yan
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  5. Liwen Liu
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Contributions

YH Duan designed research; LS Xu wrote the paper; Q Y, YC Lin, ZL Zhen, and LW Liu performed research and analyzed the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yonghong Duan.

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Xu, L., Yan, Q., Lin, Y. et al. Selective retention of particulate matter by nine plant species in central Shanxi Province, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 35902–35910 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13262-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13262-5

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