Unlocking Urban Insights: A Case Study on Impact of Urban Vegetation on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Variability Across Different Areas of Reggio Emilia, Italy

Authors

  • Vittoria Marsili Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, IT
  • Luca Forti Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, IT
  • Laura Arru Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, IT

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12974/2311-858X.2023.11.6

Keywords:

Air pollution, Particulate Matter (PM), Urban air quality, Vegetation cover, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Abstract

The Po Valley is one of the European regions most severely affected by air pollution. Within the spectrum of airborne molecules, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) represent a significant component, derived from both natural processes and anthropogenic sources. All VOCs influence air quality, as they are precursors to ozone (O3), secondary organic aerosol (SOA), and particulate matter (PM). While naturally occurring VOCs contribute to the formation of air pollutants, they also have beneficial effects on human health. Furthermore, vegetation plays a fundamental role in air purification and improvement of air quality both directly, through the metabolic processes of leaves, and indirectly, through physical mechanisms.

This study aims to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative fluctuations of VOCs in different zones within the city of Reggio Emilia (Italy), characterized by varying percentages of vegetation cover and proximity to high-traffic roads. The collected data suggest that air quality may be influenced by the spatial distribution and type of urban area, with urban parks and green zones showing lower concentrations of total VOCs compared to areas with less vegetation cover. These observations can contribute to formulating strategies to improve air quality in urban areas and emphasize the importance of vegetation in an urban context.

References

Bigi A, Ghermandi G, Harrison R M. Analysis of the air pollution climate at a background site in the Po valley. J Environ Monit 2012; 14(2): 552-563. https://doi.org/10.1039/C1EM10728C

Pernigotti D, Georgieva E, Thunis P, Bessagnet B. Impact of meteorology on air quality modeling over the Po valley in northern Italy. Atmos Environ 2012; 51: 303-310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.12.059

Thunis P, Triacchini G, Whit L, Maffeis G, Volta M. Air pollution and emission reductions over the Po-valley: Air Quality Modelling and Integrated Assessment. In 18th world IMACS Congress and MODSIM09 International Congress on Modeling and Simulation, Interfacing Modeling and Simulation with Mathematical and Computational Sciences, Cairns, Australia 2009: 13-17.

Bigi A, Ghermandi G. Trends and variability of atmospheric PM 2.5 and PM 10-2.5 concentration in the Po Valley, Italy. Atmos Chem Phys 2016; 16(24): 15777-15788. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-15777-2016

Martilli A, Neftel A, Favaro G, Kirchner F, Sillman S, Clappier A. Simulation of the ozone formation in the northern part of the Po Valley. J Geophys Res Atmos 2002; 107(D22): LOP-8. https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JD000534

Raffaelli K, Deserti M, Stortini M, Amorati R, Vasconi M, Giovannini G. Improving air quality in the Po Valley, Italy: some results by the LIFE-IP-PREPAIR project. Atmosphere 2020; 11(4): 429. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11040429

Dudareva N, Negre F, Nagegowda D A, Orlova I. Plant volatiles: recent advances and future perspectives. CRC Crit Rev Plant Sci 2006; 25(5): 417-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352680600899973

Baldwin I T. Plant volatiles. Current Biology 2010. 20(9), R392-R397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2010.02.052

Li A J, Pal V K, Kannan K. A review of environmental occurrence, toxicity, biotransformation and biomonitoring of volatile organic compounds. Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology 2021; 3: 91-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enceco.2021.01.001

Dörter M, Odabasi M, Yenisoy-Karakaş S. Source apportionment of biogenic and anthropogenic VOCs in Bolu plateau. Sci Total Environ 2020; 731, 139201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139201

Saarikoski S, Hellén H, Praplan A P, Schallhart S, Clusius P, Niemi J V et al. Characterization of volatile organic compounds and submicron organic aerosol in a traffic environment. Atmos Chem Phys 2023; 23(5): 2963-2982. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-2963-2023

Wolkoff P. (1998). Impact of air velocity, temperature, humidity, and air on long-term VOC emissions from building products. Atmos Environ 1998; 32(14-15): 2659-2668. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(97)00402-0

Song C, Liu B, Dai Q, Li H, Mao H. Temperature dependence and source apportionment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at an urban site on the north China plain. Atmos Environ 2019; 207: 167-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.03.030

Harrison R M, Allan J, Carruthers D, Heal M R, Lewis A C, Marner B et al. Non-exhaust vehicle emissions of particulate matter and VOC from road traffic: A review. Atmos Environ 2021; 262, 118592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118592

Vogel B, Fiedler F, Vogel H. Influence of topography and biogenic volatile organic compounds emission in the state of Baden‐Württemberg on ozone concentrations during episodes of high air temperatures. J Geophys Res Atmos 1995; 100(D11): 22907-22928. https://doi.org/10.1029/95JD01228

Hang J, Liang J, Wang X, Zhang X, Wu L, Shao M. Investigation of O3-NOx-VOCs chemistry and pollutant dispersion in street canyons with various aspect ratios by CFD simulations. Build Environ 2022; 226, 109667.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109667

Meneguzzo F, Albanese L, Bartolini G, Zabini F. Temporal and spatial variability of volatile organic compounds in the forest atmosphere. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16(24): 4915. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244915

Antonelli M, Donelli D, Barbieri G, Valussi M, Maggini V et al. Forest volatile organic compounds and their effects on human health: a state-of-the-art review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17(18): 6506. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186506

Zhan J, Feng Z, Liu P, He X, He Z, Chen T et al. Ozone and SOA formation potential based on photochemical loss of VOCs during the Beijing summer. Environ Pollut 2021; 285, 117444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117444

Zhou X, Zhou X, Wang C, Zhou H. Environmental and human health impacts of volatile organic compounds: A perspective review. Chemosphere 2022; 137489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137489

Li Q. Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environ Health Prev Med 2010; 15: 9-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3

Kim T, Song B, Cho K S, Lee I S. Therapeutic potential of volatile terpenes and terpenoids from forests for inflammatory diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21(6): 2187. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21062187

Grzędzicka E. Is the existing urban greenery enough to cope with current concentrations of PM2. 5, PM10 and CO2?. Atmos Pollut Res 2019; 10(1): 219-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2018.08.002

Hong B, Lin B, Qin H. Numerical investigation on the coupled effects of building-tree arrangements on fine particulate matter (PM2. 5) dispersion in housing blocks. Sustain Cities Soc 2017; 34: 358-370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.07.005

Nowak D J, Hirabayashi S, Bodine A, Greenfield E. Tree and forest effects on air quality and human health in the United States. Environ Pollut 2014; 193: 119-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.028

Smith WH. 1990. Air Pollution and Forests. Springer, New York; 1900. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3296-4

Nowak D J, Crane D E, Stevens J C. Air pollution removal by urban trees and shrubs in the United States. Urban For Urban Green 2006; 4(3-4): 115-123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2006.01.007

Schneider C A, Rasband W S, Eliceiri K W. NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nat Methods 2012; 9(7): 671-675. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.2089

Cai M, An C, Guy C. A scientometric analysis and review of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions: Research hotspots, new frontiers, and environmental implications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2021; 149, 111317.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111317

Wang H, Wu Q, Guenther A B, Yang X, Wang L, Xiao T et al. A long-term estimation of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emission in China from 2001-2016: the roles of land cover change and climate variability. Atmos Chem Phys 2021; 21(6) 4825-4848. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4825-2021

Duan C, Liao H, Wang K, Ren Y. The research hotspots and trends of volatile organic compound emissions from anthropogenic and natural sources: A systematic quantitative review. Environ Res 2023; 216, 114386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114386

Kagalkar A N, Jadhav M U, Bapat V A, Govindwar S P. Phytodegradation of the triphenylmethane dye Malachite Green mediated by cell suspension cultures of Blumea malcolmii Hook. Bioresour Technol 2011; 102(22): 10312-10318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.08.101

Kristanti R A, Kanbe M, Hadibarata T, Toyama T, Tanaka Y, Mori K. Isolation and characterization of 3-nitrophenol-degrading bacteria associated with rhizosphere of Spirodela polyrrhiza. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2012; 19: 1852-1858. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0836-x

Singh V, Pandey B, Suthar S. Phytotoxicity and degradation of antibiotic ofloxacin in duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) system. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2019; 179, 88-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.018

Zhang X, Du J, Huang T, Zhang L, Gao H, Zhao Y et al. Atmospheric removal of PM2. 5 by man-made three northern regions Shelter Forest in Northern China estimated using satellite retrieved PM2. 5 concentration. Sci Total Environ 2017; 593, 713-721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.206

Freer-Smith P H, Beckett K P, Taylor G. Deposition velocities to Sorbus aria, Acer campestre, Populus deltoides× trichocarpa 'Beaupré', Pinus nigra and× Cupressocyparis leylandii for coarse, fine and ultra-fine particles in the urban environment. Environ Pollut 2005; 133(1): 157-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2004.03.031

Fares S, Conte A, Alivernini A, Chianucci F, Grotti M, Zappitelli I et al. Testing removal of carbon dioxide, ozone, and atmospheric particles by urban parks in Italy. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54(23): 14910-14922. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c04740

Omasa K, Tobe K, Hosomi M, Kobayashi M. Absorption of ozone and seven organic pollutants by Populus nigra and Camellia sasanqua. Environ Sci Technol 2000; 34(12): 2498-2500. https://doi.org/10.1021/es991285m

Escobedo F J, Kroeger T, Wagner J E. Urban forests and pollution mitigation: Analyzing ecosystem services and disservices. Environ Pollut 2011; 159(8-9): 2078-2087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.01.010

Nowak D J. The effects of urban trees on air quality. USDA Forest Service 2002; 96-102.

Endreny T, Santagata R, Perna A, De Stefano C, Rallo R F, Ulgiati S. Implementing and managing urban forests: A much needed conservation strategy to increase ecosystem services and urban wellbeing. Ecol Modell 2017; 360: 328-335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.07.016

Morikawa H, Erkin Ö C. Basic processes in phytoremediation and some applications to air pollution control. Chemosphere 2003; 52(9): 1553-1558. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00495-8

Lee B X Y, Hadibarata T, Yuniarto A. Phytoremediation mechanisms in air pollution control: a review. Water Air Soil Pollut 2020; 231(8): 437. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04813-6

Pandey V C, Bajpai O. Phytoremediation: from theory toward practice. In Phytomanagement of polluted sites. Elsevier, 2019; pp. 1-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813912-7.00001-6

Roy S, Byrne J, Pickering C. A systematic quantitative review of urban tree benefits, costs, and assessment methods across cities in different climatic zones. Urban For Urban Green 2012; 11(4): 351-363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2012.06.006

Downloads

Published

15-12-2023

How to Cite

Marsili, V. ., Forti, L. ., & Arru, L. . (2023). Unlocking Urban Insights: A Case Study on Impact of Urban Vegetation on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Variability Across Different Areas of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Global Journal Of Botanical Science, 11, 52–64. https://doi.org/10.12974/2311-858X.2023.11.6

Issue

Section

Articles