Role of most cultivated woody plants in Tehran city to reduce air pollution

Particulate matter is an air contaminant in urban and especially industrial areas that affects human health, ecosystem health. In recent years the role of plants aremore concerned. Urban cultivated trees and shrubs can improve air quality through the direct removal of air pollutants. In present study, the ability of five most cultivated shrubs in Tehran for removing particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5) was compared to each other. So, Ligustrum vulgare, Nerium oleander, Berberis thunbergii, Cotoneaster horizontali, and Euonymus japonicas Were selected. The results showed that Berberis is the most effective and Nerium was least effective taxa to reduce particulate matters. However, the pollution level of the sites has direct effects on the rate of PM deposition on leaves.

Keywords:

Air polluteon , Particulate matter , Urban green space