Relationship between Atmospheric CO2 Concentration and Vegetation in a Hospital Area: The Policlinico Umberto I in Rome

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DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2019.108095    389 Downloads   929 Views  

ABSTRACT

The capability of the plants growing in the Policlinico Umberto I, one of the most important hospitals in Rome, to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) and air temperature was analyzed. The CO2 concentration inside and outside the hospital and traffic density in the streets surrounding the area was monitored monthly. Measurements of structural plant traits were carried out. The highest CO2 concentration was monitored in winter-spring (425 ± 8 ppm, mean value) when traffic density peaks, decreasing by 17% in summer. During the day-time, the highest CO2 concentration (433 ± 61 ppm, mean value) was measured in the first hours of the morning (9:00) decreasing by 12% from 11.00 to 13.00 in relationship with traffic density decreasing (p < 0.05). Among the greening present in the hospital area, the “group of trees” plays an important role in lowering CO2 concentration compared to meadows. Moreover, outside the Policlinico air temperature was, on average, 17% higher compared to the inside. The results show the effectiveness of plants in improving air quality and suggest that greening traits may be used to realise an inventory available for tree planting programs to ameliorate the quality of life.

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Gratani, L. , Puglielli, G. and Catoni, R. (2019) Relationship between Atmospheric CO2 Concentration and Vegetation in a Hospital Area: The Policlinico Umberto I in Rome. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 10, 1313-1324. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2019.108095.
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