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Evaluation of the uptake rate of major air pollutants by common tree plants in Taiwan

Absrtact	The purpose of this project is to evaluate the uptake rate of major air pollutants by common tree plants in air-cleaning parks in Taiwan. The target air pollutants include ozone, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen chloride and dust. In addition to review all the related literature with air-cleaning efficacy of all the common trees, there are seven major tasks included in this one year project: (1) To compare the air cleaning efficacy of common trees among different month or season; (2) To determine the pollutant uptake rates of common trees infested with pest or disease as compared with the healthy ones; (3) To compare the pollutant uptake rates of six evergreen plant species with six deciduous species; (4) To determine the pollutant uptake rates of common trees in lack of nutrition as compared with the normal ones; (5) To determine the hydrogen chloride uptake rates by six shrub species; (6)To conduct an expert consulting meeting for this project; and (7)To estimate the yearly uptake rates of major air pollutants by these common tree plants. Results showed that most tested plant species uptake more air pollutants in spring season. Those infested with pests were not different with healthy ones in pollutant uptake, but the nutrition conditions do affect the pollutant uptake rates. The pollutant uptake rates of most evergreen or deciduous trees were higher when the leaves were young than the older leaves. The hydrogen chloride uptake rate seemed to be higher for those shrubs with darker or thicker leaves. The yearly uptake rates of six trees and three shrubs to ozone and nitrogen dioxide were estimated according to these measured deposition velocities. A preliminary data base was established for the future application. All these results will be applied in tree recommendation for those greening task in governmental sector or the private sectors. We recommend that both governmental and private sectors should select those plants with higher pollutant uptake rates, and adopt the better management strategies to maintain the air-cleaning parks in Taiwan. The results shown in this report are useful especially for Taiwan EPA and other organizations to select the right tree species for growing in polluted areas and neighborhood parks in Taiwan.
Keyword	air quality, ozone, nitrogen dioxide

Absrtact

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the uptake rate of major air pollutants by common tree plants in air-cleaning parks in Taiwan. The target air pollutants include ozone, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen chloride and dust. In addition to review all the related literature with air-cleaning efficacy of all the common trees, there are seven major tasks included in this one year project: (1) To compare the air cleaning efficacy of common trees among different month or season; (2) To determine the pollutant uptake rates of common trees infested with pest or disease as compared with the healthy ones; (3) To compare the pollutant uptake rates of six evergreen plant species with six deciduous species; (4) To determine the pollutant uptake rates of common trees in lack of nutrition as compared with the normal ones; (5) To determine the hydrogen chloride uptake rates by six shrub species; (6)To conduct an expert consulting meeting for this project; and (7)To estimate the yearly uptake rates of major air pollutants by these common tree plants. Results showed that most tested plant species uptake more air pollutants in spring season. Those infested with pests were not different with healthy ones in pollutant uptake, but the nutrition conditions do affect the pollutant uptake rates. The pollutant uptake rates of most evergreen or deciduous trees were higher when the leaves were young than the older leaves. The hydrogen chloride uptake rate seemed to be higher for those shrubs with darker or thicker leaves. The yearly uptake rates of six trees and three shrubs to ozone and nitrogen dioxide were estimated according to these measured deposition velocities. A preliminary data base was established for the future application. All these results will be applied in tree recommendation for those greening task in governmental sector or the private sectors. We recommend that both governmental and private sectors should select those plants with higher pollutant uptake rates, and adopt the better management strategies to maintain the air-cleaning parks in Taiwan. The results shown in this report are useful especially for Taiwan EPA and other organizations to select the right tree species for growing in polluted areas and neighborhood parks in Taiwan.

Keyword

air quality, ozone, nitrogen dioxide