Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species
Green infrastructure, such as street trees, can help improve air quality, but the role of rainfall in cleaning total particulate matter (TPM) from tree leaves is not well understood, especially in cities like Santiago, Chile. This study measured TPM deposited on leaves and its elemental composition...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| author | Margarita Préndez Karina Corada Ignacio Navarrete Javier Vera Zilera Wyss |
| author_facet | Margarita Préndez Karina Corada Ignacio Navarrete Javier Vera Zilera Wyss |
| author_sort | Margarita Préndez |
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| description | Green infrastructure, such as street trees, can help improve air quality, but the role of rainfall in cleaning total particulate matter (TPM) from tree leaves is not well understood, especially in cities like Santiago, Chile. This study measured TPM deposited on leaves and its elemental composition of two native tree species, <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> and <i>Schinus molle</i>, by five independent rainfall episodes. The results showed significant differences in how each tree species responded to rainfall. The total amount of TPM finally removed or retained at the leaf level in the five rainfall events studied was 4.72 and 8.43 mg/g<sub>ldw</sub> for <i>Q. saponaria</i> and <i>S. molle</i>, respectively. <i>Q. saponaria</i> decreased TPM levels after rainfall, while <i>S. molle</i> exhibited mixed responses, increasing or decreasing TPM accumulation on leaves after different intensities of rainfalls. Elemental analysis revealed metals such as lithium and nickel—potentially linked to electric vehicle batteries—and tin and antimony–potentially linked to industrial processes. Rainfall benefited air quality by removing heavy metals from the atmosphere and aiding plant recovery from TPM accumulation. However, further research is needed on metal speciation in TPM and its foliar uptake by plants. This study provides some insights into the complex interactions between trees leaves, TPM deposition, and rainfall. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-41f1b69f94bd467fa977f7804bc639912025-01-24T13:21:51ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-01-011615110.3390/atmos16010051Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native SpeciesMargarita Préndez0Karina Corada1Ignacio Navarrete2Javier Vera3Zilera Wyss4Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Santiago 8380000, ChileSustainability Research Institute, University of East London, London E16 2RD, UKDepartamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Santiago 8380000, ChileSub-Departamento de Metrología, Departamento Nacional y de Referencia en Salud Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile, Santiago 7780050, ChileDepartamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Independencia, Santiago 8380000, ChileGreen infrastructure, such as street trees, can help improve air quality, but the role of rainfall in cleaning total particulate matter (TPM) from tree leaves is not well understood, especially in cities like Santiago, Chile. This study measured TPM deposited on leaves and its elemental composition of two native tree species, <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> and <i>Schinus molle</i>, by five independent rainfall episodes. The results showed significant differences in how each tree species responded to rainfall. The total amount of TPM finally removed or retained at the leaf level in the five rainfall events studied was 4.72 and 8.43 mg/g<sub>ldw</sub> for <i>Q. saponaria</i> and <i>S. molle</i>, respectively. <i>Q. saponaria</i> decreased TPM levels after rainfall, while <i>S. molle</i> exhibited mixed responses, increasing or decreasing TPM accumulation on leaves after different intensities of rainfalls. Elemental analysis revealed metals such as lithium and nickel—potentially linked to electric vehicle batteries—and tin and antimony–potentially linked to industrial processes. Rainfall benefited air quality by removing heavy metals from the atmosphere and aiding plant recovery from TPM accumulation. However, further research is needed on metal speciation in TPM and its foliar uptake by plants. This study provides some insights into the complex interactions between trees leaves, TPM deposition, and rainfall.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/51urban air pollutionstreet trees<i>Quillaja saponaria</i><i>Schinus molle</i>elemental analysis of TPM |
| spellingShingle | Margarita Préndez Karina Corada Ignacio Navarrete Javier Vera Zilera Wyss Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species Atmosphere urban air pollution street trees <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> <i>Schinus molle</i> elemental analysis of TPM |
| title | Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species |
| title_full | Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species |
| title_fullStr | Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species |
| title_short | Rainfall and PM Removal on Tree Leaves: A Study of Santiago, Chile’s Native Species |
| title_sort | rainfall and pm removal on tree leaves a study of santiago chile s native species |
| topic | urban air pollution street trees <i>Quillaja saponaria</i> <i>Schinus molle</i> elemental analysis of TPM |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/1/51 |
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