| Summary: | This study clarifies whether vegetation can promote the decrease of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration. The indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration in two periods of 2013 in Wuhan city was simulated by cigarette burning in a series of sealed chambers. Six common indoor potted plants were selected as samples to investigate the effect of plants on PM<sub>2.5</sub> decline. The effects of potted plants on PM<sub>2.5</sub> decline were analyzed from three aspects: plant species, leaf characteristics and relative humidity. The results show that the presence of potted plants accelerated the decline of PM<sub>2.5</sub>. The additional removal rates (excluding gravity sedimentation of PM<sub>2.5</sub> itself) for <i>Aloe vera</i> and <i>Epipremnum aureum</i> were 5.2% and 30% respectively, when the initial PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration was around 200 μg/m<sup>3</sup>. The corresponding values were 0% and 17.2%, respectively, when the initial PM<sub>2.5</sub> was around 300 μg/m<sup>3</sup>. <i>Epipremnum aureum</i> was the optimum potted plant for PM<sub>2.5</sub> sedimentation, due to its rough and groove leaf surface, highest LAI (leaf area index, 2.27), and strong humidifying capacity (i.e., can promote chamber humidity to 65% in 30−60 minutes.). Actual indoor studies have also confirmed that a certain amount of <i>Epipremnum aureum</i> can promote the decrease of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub>. This paper provides insights on reducing the concentration of fine particulate matter by indoor greening efforts.
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