Evaluating the Particulate Matter and Carbon Dioxide Reduction of Four Broad-leaved Evergreen Plants

Evaluating the Particulate Matter and Carbon Dioxide Reduction of Four Broad-leaved Evergreen Plants

Background and objective: Since people spend 70-80% of their time indoors, the quality of indoor air has become a crucialfactor in overall health. Therefore, poor indoor air quality can have significant adverse effects on our well-being. Commonindoor air pollutants are particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Plants can remove PM and CO2 through thephotosynthesis process and leaf surfaces, and regulate the temperature and humidity of the air. By analyzing the PM andCO2 reduction of four broad-leaved evergreen plants, this study aims to provide data for air purification in indoor spaces. Methods: The four different plant species (Neolitsea sericea (Blume) Koidz., Coffea arabica L., Photinia glabra (Thunb.)Franch. and Sav., and Farfugium japonicum (L.) Kitam.) were selected for this study. Mosquito coils and a CO2 cylinder werethe primary sources of PM and CO2. These pollutants were injected into a closed acrylic chamber with plants, and the airquality within the chamber was monitored for a duration of five hours. The plants' effectiveness in reducing carbon dioxidewas evaluated through the clean air delivery rate (CADR), while their ability to reduce PM was assessed by analyzing thePM reduction rate. Photosynthetic rates and leaf area were also measured to determine the correlation between airpollution removal and these factors. Results: The ability to remove PM and CO2 varied among plants. Plants with higher rates of photosynthesis were moreeffective in reducing PM and CO2 than those with lower rates. Among the four plant species, C. arabica and P. glabra weremore effective in removing PM and CO2 than the other species. The chamber containing plants exhibited higher humidityand lower temperatures compared to the chamber without plants. Conclusion: These findings suggest that plants can play a significant role in improving indoor air quality. Not only do theyeffectively reduce levels of PM and CO2, but they also contribute to the regulation of indoor temperature and humidity. Theimplications of these results highlight the potential of integrating plants into indoor spaces as a natural and multifacetedsolution for creating healthier and more comfortable environments.