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Updated: Mar 9, 2026
Assessing the Particulate Matter Removal Abilities of Tree Leaves
Published on: October 7, 2018
How Does the Amount and Composition of PM Deposited on Platanus acerifolia Leaves Change Across Different Cities in
Chiara Baldacchini1, Ana Castanheiro2, Nairuhi Maghakyan3
1Institute of Agro Environmental and Forest Biology, National Research Council (IBAF-CNR), Via Marconi 2, Porano 05010, & Via Castellino 111, Napoli 80131, Italy.
Abstract:
Particulate matter (PM) deposited on Platanus acerifolia tree leaves has been sampled in the urban areas of 28 European cities, over 20 countries, with the aim of testing leaf deposited particles as indicator of atmospheric PM concentration and composition. Leaves have been collected close to streets characterized by heavy traffic and within urban parks. Leaf surface density, dimensions, and elemental composition of leaf deposited particles have been compared with leaf magnetic content, and discussed in connection with air quality data. The PM quantity and size were mainly dependent on the regional background concentration of particles, while the percentage of iron-based particles emerged as a clear marker of traffic-related pollution in most of the sites. This indicates that Platanus acerifolia is highly suitable to be used in atmospheric PM monitoring studies and that morphological and elemental characteristics of leaf deposited particles, joined with the leaf magnetic content, may successfully allow urban PM source apportionment.
