Effectiveness of indoor plants for passive removal of indoor ozone

• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.04.007
• Publication Date: 2017-04-14T11:24:58Z
• Authors: Omed A. Abbass; David J. Sailor; Elliott T. Gall
• Keywords: Deposition; Ornamental plant; Sink (geography)

Indoor vegetation is often proposed as a passive approach for improving indoor air quality. While studies of outdoor environments indicate that can be an important sink ozone, there scant data in the literature concerning dynamics ozone uptake by plants. This study determined deposition velocities (vd) five common plants (Peace Lily, Ficus, Calathia, Dieffenbachia, Golden Pothos). The transient vd was calculated, using measured leaf areas each plant, exposures mimicking three diurnal cycles where concentrations chamber tests were elevated 8 h followed 16 absence ozone. Estimates at end first ranged from 5.6 m h−1 Pothos to 0.9 Peace Lily. Values approximately 50% and 66% lower second exposure third exposure, respectively. also made range photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) levels typically observed indoors. An increase PAR 0.6 41.2 μmol m−2 sec−1 resulted increases ranging factor 1.7 (Diffenbachia) 4.7 Lily). For this study, removal effectiveness ranges 0.9% 9% surface area room volume ratio 0.06 m−1 (approximately one plant every 1.8 m2 floor area) when accounting values exchange background loss typical residential environment.