The research team at Tongji University cooperated with a colleague of the Shanghai Academy of Land Scap Architecture Science and Planning, found that growing plants on the roofs could prove to be an effective way to remove microplastics from the air. In this study, published in the journal Communication Earth and Environment, the team measured the amount of microplastics on plants and soils in which they grow. Previous research has shown that roofing plants can reduce heating and cooling bills, as well as cleaning the air around them with pollution.
Testing plants types and microplastic exposure
According to the study, the research team found whether the growing plants had microplastics. To know this, they planted two different plants, which are used on the roofs in Shanghai. Moreover, they introduced microplastic particles in the air near the joint level found in Shanghai. Researchers then introduced artificial rainfall after measurement of micro -plastic surface in the soil and plants.
Green roof
What they found was that the plants did a great job of pulling microplastics from the rising rain through the wind above them. The green roof system produced by the researchers consisted of a clay layer, which pulled microplastics from rainwater that falls on it.
Microplastics are mostly caught in the soil, not on the leaves
And after measureing through numerous rains, the team found that the percentage of microplastics increased further with the intensity of rain.
Researchers found that the leaves were collecting less of microplastics, but bulk clay was collected better rather than a fiber shape.
Shanghai’s green roof capacity to capture microplastics
The team noted that Shanghai currently has only 38.33 million square feet of roof that is occupied by plants. However, based on their results, they suggest that Shanghai can capture about 56 56.2 metric tons of micro -plastic every year if the roofs of all buildings are made green.
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