Moss: Nature's Pollution Absorber?

Moss has been shown to absorb pollution, and companies such as Green City Solutions are using this property to improve air quality in urban areas. Moss is a family of plants with multiple species, some of which are better at absorbing pollution than others. Moss has been shown to absorb and filter pollutants such as CO2, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, soot, dirt, dust, and heavy metals. This has led to the creation of vertical gardens and moss walls in cities, which act as air purifiers and can be more effective than traditional urban trees and green spaces.

Moss absorbs CO2, nitrogen oxide, and dust

Mosses are one of the most diverse and widespread plant groups, often forming the dominant vegetation in montane, boreal, and arctic ecosystems. They are known to naturally filter pollutants from the air very effectively.

Mosses absorb and transform greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and possess both roots and leaves. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience suggests that mosses sequester around 6.43 billion metric tons more carbon in the soil than is stored in bare patches of soil without any plants typically found nearby in global semi-arid areas. This is six times the annual global carbon emissions caused by changes in land use, such as deforestation and urbanization.

Additionally, mosses absorb nitrogen oxide (NOx) from the soil and the air. They have been observed to have increased concentrations of shoot 15N when exposed to either soil- or wet deposition-derived 15N, indicating that they derive nitrogen from the soil and transport it to their above-ground tissue. This ability to absorb nitrogen oxide allows mosses to compete for soil nitrogen in a wide range of ecosystems, influencing nitrogen cycling.

Furthermore, mosses absorb dust and other particulate matter from the air. Their thin cuticle layer allows them to absorb water and nutrients over their entire surface area, making them effective biomonitors for air quality. The binding and uptake of fine dust particles is facilitated by their high ion exchange capacity. This characteristic makes mosses ideal for use in technologies such as the CityTree, which acts as an air purifier by combining moss with remote technology to increase airflow and "suck up" pollutants.

Moss is more effective than vascular plants at monitoring heavy metal pollution

Mosses have been found to be more effective than vascular plants at monitoring heavy metal pollution. Mosses and leaves of vascular plants are both used as bioindicators of environmental contamination by heavy metals. However, mosses are better capable of accumulating heavy metals than tree leaves. The concentration of heavy metals in moss species depends on the metal species and land use type. For example, mosses were found to have higher concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Ag. This is likely due to anthropogenic factors, such as traffic emissions from automobiles and manufacturing industries, which influence the metal accumulation in mosses.

The accumulation of heavy metals in vascular plants is more complicated than in mosses. Vascular plants can uptake metals from the soil through their roots, absorb atmospheric depositions, and restrict the uptake of toxic elements. In contrast, mosses primarily accumulate metals from atmospheric deposition rather than the substrate soil. This makes mosses more effective at monitoring atmospheric heavy metal pollution in urban areas.

Studies have shown that mosses have higher enrichment factors (EFs) for heavy metals than vascular plants. The EFs of Cd, Zn, Cu, and Mo were found to be highly varied among sampling sites. The EFs of H. angustifolium, a moss species, were significantly higher than those of the vascular plants studied. This indicates that mosses are more effective at accumulating and monitoring heavy metal pollution in the environment.

The use of mosses to monitor heavy metal pollution has been applied in urban areas. For example, the CityTree, invented by Green City Solutions, is a moss filter with integrated ventilation and sensors that can be deployed in cities to improve air quality. The moss cultures in the CityTree eat particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants, improving the air quality in urban environments. The compact dimensions of the CityTree make it an ideal solution for cities, and it has already been implemented in several cities in Europe.

Moss forests are energy-efficient and eco-friendly

Moss forests are an innovative and eco-friendly solution to combat air pollution in cities. The unique characteristics of moss make it an effective absorber of pollutants, and its compact nature makes it an ideal choice for urban settings.

One notable example of a moss forest is the CityTree, invented by Green City Solutions. This award-winning green-tech company combines nature and technology to create a powerful air purifier. The CityTree is a vertical flat-panelled "tree" that utilizes moss cultures to eat particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide from the air. Its integrated ventilation system and sensors further enhance its air-purifying capabilities.

The CityTree offers a highly efficient and sustainable solution for improving air quality in urban environments. With its compact dimensions of just four metres high and three metres wide, it can be easily placed in cities, providing the air-cleaning capacity of hundreds of trees in a small frame. The CityTree also doubles as a bench for pedestrians, making it a functional and aesthetically pleasing addition to urban spaces.

Moss forests, such as the CityTree, are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. The moss naturally filters pollutants, and the structure is made from recyclable materials. Additionally, solar panels are used to generate power, ensuring that the moss forest remains energy-efficient and self-sustaining. Sensors within the moss forest monitor various environmental factors, including soil moisture, water quality, and ambient temperature, further contributing to its eco-friendly design.

The impact of moss forests in improving air quality has been significant. For example, the CityTree in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, is estimated to absorb as much pollution as 275 trees. This not only improves the health and quality of life for city dwellers but also helps to tackle the global issue of air pollution, which currently affects 90% of city inhabitants worldwide.

Moss walls are already in use in cities worldwide

Moss walls, also known as vertical gardens or CityTrees, are already in use in cities worldwide. These moss installations are designed to combat air pollution and improve air quality in urban environments. The concept of using plant walls to enhance air quality is gaining traction globally, with cities such as Modena, Oslo, Hong Kong, Glasgow, and several German cities, including Berlin, embracing this innovative approach.

One prominent example of moss walls in action is the CityTree, developed by Green City Solutions, a Berlin-based company. The CityTree is a vertical flat-paneled structure that combines moss with technology to purify the air. Each CityTree can filter up to 80% of pollution particles, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, CO2, soot, dirt, and other pollutants. The moss cultures in the CityTree literally consume these pollutants, improving air quality and reducing the harmful impacts of air pollution on human health.

Green City Solutions was founded by Sänger and Wu, who were inspired to tackle the issue of dirty air after experiencing the negative consequences of air pollution during their travels. Their invention, the CityTree, has been installed in various cities across Europe and Asia, including London, Berlin, Oslo, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Drammen, Newcastle, and Hong Kong. These benches, integrated with vertical moss gardens, can absorb as much pollution as 275 trees in just 1% of the space.

The moss walls are designed to be energy-efficient, incorporating solar panels to generate power and keep the batteries charged. Additionally, they are constructed from eco-friendly and recyclable materials. The plant walls are equipped with sensors that monitor soil moisture, water quality, and ambient temperature. They also collect data on air quality and efficiency, which is then analysed by the company. The moss walls are easy to install, taking less than six hours, and their maintenance is relatively affordable, costing around 2,500€ per year.

As cities continue to grapple with the challenges of air pollution, the adoption of moss walls offers a promising solution. By harnessing the natural filtering capabilities of moss, cities can improve air quality, create greener spaces, and ultimately enhance the health and well-being of their residents.

Moss can be used to create sustainable, compact air purifiers

Moss can be used to create sustainable and compact air purifiers, as demonstrated by the German company Green City Solutions. Their invention, the CityTree, is a moss-based air purifier that doubles as a seat for pedestrians. The CityTree combines moss's natural ability to filter pollutants from the air with remote technology to increase airflow, allowing it to ""suck up" and clean more air than normal. It is designed to be placed in air pollution hotspots, providing an interesting addition to urban trees and green spaces.

The CityTree is a vertical flat-panelled structure that incorporates a moss filter, integrated ventilation, an irrigation system, and sensors to capture environmental data. The moss cultures literally eat particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxide out of the air, offsetting many tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year. Laboratory tests have shown that a single CityTree can absorb as much pollution as 275 trees, making it a highly effective solution for improving air quality in urban environments.

The concept of using moss to improve air quality is not limited to the CityTree. Moss has also been incorporated into vertical plant walls in cities around the globe, such as Modena, Oslo, Hong Kong, and Glasgow. These small vertical gardens, also known as moss forests, can be installed in just six hours and provide an easy and affordable way to improve air quality. They are equipped with sensors that evaluate soil moisture, water quality, and ambient temperature, as well as devices that collect data on air quality and efficiency.

The use of moss as a natural air purifier offers a creative solution to human-made environmental problems. Moss is particularly effective at accumulating heavy metals, such as Cd, Zn, Ag, and Pb, making it a valuable tool for monitoring atmospheric heavy metal pollution in urban areas. By incorporating moss into compact and sustainable air purifiers, we can improve the quality of life for people in cities and provide cleaner air to breathe.

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