Assessing the capacity of trees and shrubs species to accumulate of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.2)

Background and Objective: Today, the presence and increase of particulate matter is one of the serious factors that threaten human health. In the meantime, trees can accumulate airborne particles by their foliage. In this study, the accumulating ability of various PM by the leaf of some tree and shrub species was evaluated in Isfahan. Materials and Methods: 12 species of trees and shrubs were selected at 8 locations in Isfahan and the total PM, PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.2 were measured using water and chloroform washing methods by paper filters 91, 42 μm, and Polytetra Fluorethylene filters and digital balance. Results: The results showed that the highest and lowest mean total accumulation of total particulate matter was related to Morus nigra and Salix alba, that were 190.23 ± 23.5 and 11.9 ± 4.42 μg/cm2. In addition, the trend of accumulation of total PM on the leaf surface from the highest to the lowest was: Morus nigra> Platanus orientalis> Ulmus umbraculifera> Morus alba> Acer negundo> Ailanthus altissima> Fraxinus excelsior > Nerium oleander >Robinia pseudoacacia> Cercis siliquastrum> Nerium oleander > Euonymus japonicas> Salix alba and in epicuticular Waxes, Morus nigra> Ulmus umbraculifera > Platanus orientalis > Morus alba> Ailanthus altissima> Acer negundo > Robinia pseudoacacia>Cercis siliquastrum> Fraxinus excelsior > Nerium oleander > Euonymus japonicas> Salix alba. Conclusion: The results indicated that the ability of different tree species to absorb PM depended on the morphological, physiological and ecological characteristics of the leaf. Finally, among the different species the Morus nigra had the highest ability to capture various PM.