Even the best technologies need improvements
Our recent publication in the prestigious journal Environmental Pollution shows that frequent rainfall or regular sprinkling of water on plants (e.g., during watering) can increase the efficiency of particulate matter (PM) removal from the air by up to three times – and potentially up to six times – compared to situations with no or less frequent rainfall.
Why does this happen? Plants – like filters – need periodic “cleaning” to fully perform their role in cleaning the air. Our research has shown that this simple procedure does not adversely affect the physiological state of plants, and can significantly improve the efficiency of phytoremediation.
The study was carried out on a popular climbing plant, the five-leaf grapevine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), under real conditions on the campus of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).
This research was made possible through close scientific cooperation between:
Remediation Laboratory,
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Thailand)
and the Climate Research Center of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences – Warsaw School of Life Sciences.
Special thanks go to Ginting Dwi Setiawan, the first author of the article, who carried out the research during his internship in Poland. The research work was funded by the National Science Center under grant no. 2020/39/D/NZ9/00969 awarded to Dr. Robert Popek, Prof. SGGW.
📄 Article title:
Effect of simulated rain and rain frequency on particulate matter re-accumulation in roadside climbers Parthenocissus quinquefolia
👉 Full text (Elsevier)