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
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