Nature gives the best dust-buster
pilot study finds certain plants ideal for curbing air pollution
Apart from absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen, researchers from Rizvi College said that they have discovered plants that retain dust.
The pilot study revealed that some ornamental plants on the city's streets are useful in collecting dust particles and purifying the air. The plants researchers identified are Lantana Camara, Nerium odorum and Zizyphus and Ficus Benjamina. "Their leaves effectively collect suspended particulate matter (SPM and RSPM/ dust) thus reducing the city's air pollution," says principal investigator Nitesh Joshi, Associate Professor of Botany at Rizvi College.
The team is now studying 62 ornamental trees and plants grown at traffic islands in a project funded by the University Grants Commission. "We will soon come out with a checklist of plants with high dust capturing capacity," elaborated Joshi.
The size of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is less than 100 microns. It not only exceeds the permissible limit of 200 ug/m3 in Mumbai, it is also the worst pollutant after vehicular emissions. The level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), which is less than 10 microns, has also continued to increase in the last three years. The average RSPM level in the city has doubled compared to the standard level of 100 ug/m3.
Both SPM and RSPM have been associated with diseases of the heart and lungs such as asthma and bronchitis.
Dr Joshi studied 12 roadside herbs and shrubs in the months of December and March 2010 in Colaba, the Western suburbs and the Western Express Highway.
"The ornamental plants growing along the western suburbs and Western Express Highway were found to have more dust on the leaves compared to the ones growing in South Mumbai," said Dr Joshi.
The study found that the leaves of four plants have best dust retaining quality even in windy weather. They are Lantana Camara, Nerium Odorum, Zizyphus Jujuba, Duranta Plumieri and Ficus Venjamina.
pilot study finds certain plants ideal for curbing air pollution
Apart from absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen, researchers from Rizvi College said that they have discovered plants that retain dust.
The pilot study revealed that some ornamental plants on the city's streets are useful in collecting dust particles and purifying the air. The plants researchers identified are Lantana Camara, Nerium odorum and Zizyphus and Ficus Benjamina. "Their leaves effectively collect suspended particulate matter (SPM and RSPM/ dust) thus reducing the city's air pollution," says principal investigator Nitesh Joshi, Associate Professor of Botany at Rizvi College.
The team is now studying 62 ornamental trees and plants grown at traffic islands in a project funded by the University Grants Commission. "We will soon come out with a checklist of plants with high dust capturing capacity," elaborated Joshi.
The size of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is less than 100 microns. It not only exceeds the permissible limit of 200 ug/m3 in Mumbai, it is also the worst pollutant after vehicular emissions. The level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), which is less than 10 microns, has also continued to increase in the last three years. The average RSPM level in the city has doubled compared to the standard level of 100 ug/m3.
Both SPM and RSPM have been associated with diseases of the heart and lungs such as asthma and bronchitis.
Dr Joshi studied 12 roadside herbs and shrubs in the months of December and March 2010 in Colaba, the Western suburbs and the Western Express Highway.
"The ornamental plants growing along the western suburbs and Western Express Highway were found to have more dust on the leaves compared to the ones growing in South Mumbai," said Dr Joshi.
The study found that the leaves of four plants have best dust retaining quality even in windy weather. They are Lantana Camara, Nerium Odorum, Zizyphus Jujuba, Duranta Plumieri and Ficus Venjamina.
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