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The current study evaluated the effects of air pollution on selected street trees in the National Capital Territory during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons to identify the optimally suitable tree for green belt development in Delhi. The identification was performed by measuring the air pollution tolerance index (APTI), anticipated performance index (API), dust-capturing capacity (DCC) and proline content on the trees. The APTI of street trees of Delhi varied significantly among different tree species (F11,88.91 = 47.18, p < 0.05), experimental sites (F3,12.52 = 6.65, p < 0.001) and between seasons (F1,31.12 = 16.51, p < 0.001), emphasizing the relationships between trees and other types of variables such as the climate and level of pollution, among other factors. This variability emphasizes the need to choose trees to use for urban greening in the improvement of air quality in different environments within cities. Ascorbic acid (AA) concentration and relative water content (RWC) had a strong influence on APTI with an extremely significant moderate positive correlation between AA concentration and APTI (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) along with RWC and APTI (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of AA concentration and RWC are linked to increased air pollution tolerance. The PCA bi-plot indicates AA has poor positive loading coefficients with PC1 explaining 29.49% of the total variance in the dataset. The highest APTI was recorded in Azadirachta indica (22.01), Leucaena leucocephala (20.65), Morus alba (20.62), Ficus religiosa (20.61) and Ficus benghalensis (19.61), irrespective of sites and seasons. Similarly, based on API grading, F. religiosa and F. benghalensis were identified as excellent API grade 6 (81-90%), A. indica and Alstonia scholaris as very good API grade 5 (71-80%), M. alba, Pongamia pinnata and Monoon longifolium as good API grade 4 (61-70%) and Plumeria alba as moderate API grade 3 (51-60%) in different streets of Delhi. As these plants are indigenous to the region and hold significant socio-economic and aesthetic significance in Indian societies, they are advisable for avenue plantations as part of various government initiatives to support environmental sustainability.
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Contaminación del Aire , Ciudades , Árboles , India , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Estaciones del AñoRESUMEN
Air pollution is a pressing environmental concern in urban areas, especially in densely populated cities like Delhi, India. However, plant species can effectively capture airborne suspended pollutants. Given this, the present study aimed to investigate the seasonal variations (pre- and post-monsoon) in the pollution-mitigating potential, biochemical characteristics, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) capturing capacities of select plant species in Delhi. Also, using biochemical parameters, plant morphology, and socioeconomic factors, the study computed tolerance indices such as the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). Ficus religiosa L. exhibited the highest APTI value of 11.94, while Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites displayed the lowest 7.99 APTI value during the pre-monsoon. Ficus benghalensis L. showed the maximum SPM adhesion on the leaves, with a deposition of 1305.46 µg/cm2, whereas F. religiosa exhibited the lowest SPM deposition of 56.62 µg/cm2. Moreover, the statistical analysis indicated a positive correlation between ascorbic acid and chlorophyll content (R2 > 0.6) with APTI. Also, F. religiosa demonstrated a significant Pearson's correlation (P < 0.05) between chlorophyll content and SPM deposition during the pre-monsoon. The study highlighted the dynamic nature of plant-based air pollution mitigation. It offered valuable insights into the potential of green infrastructure as a sustainable solution for addressing air quality concerns in urban environments. The results emphasized the significance of selecting adequate plant species and considering seasonal variations in developing urban greening strategies to combat air pollution.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Material Particulado , Plantas , Estaciones del Año , Material Particulado/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , India , CiudadesRESUMEN
Airborne particles (dust pollution) pose a significant threat to both human and plant populations. Plant leaves act as crucial biofilters, capturing significant amounts of air pollution; this characteristic offers a valuable tool to measure local pollution levels and assess individual plant species' ability to intercept and mitigate harmful dust particles. The present study was carried out to asses the effect of responses of various plant species to dust pollution near and around the marble mining site comprising residential site, highway area, and Central University of Rajasthan as control. The anticipated pollution index, air pollution tolerance index (APTI), dust absorption capacity, metal accumulation index (MAI), and biochemical factors were used to evaluate plant responses. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. demonstrated the highest (29.0) and Vachellia nilotica L. showed lowest (5.6) APTI, respectively. A. indica showed maximum MAI values in comparison to other plant species situated at residential site. Additionally, monitoring of particulate matter (PM10) observed to highest at highway, followed by mining, residential, and control sites. Overall A. indica representing highest APTI and effective dust capturing capacity at all sites could serve as potential pollution sinks. V. nilotica, with its very low APTI, can be marked as biomonitoring tool for detecting dust pollution.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Polvo , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Minería , Plantas , India , Polvo/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Plantas/efectos de los fármacos , Contaminación del Aire , Material Particulado/análisisRESUMEN
An experimental investigation was conducted to determine the effectiveness of roadside trees for removing dust and the effects of dust load on the physiology and micromorphology of the foliage. The present study was conducted near an open coal mining complex situated in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, India, to assess the air pollution tolerance index (APTI), anticipated performance index (API), dust capturing capacity (DCC), and leaf morphology of trees and shrubs growing around the coal fields. Results showed that Azadirachta indica, Mangifera indica, Ficus religiosa, Ailanthus excelsa, and Ficus benghalensis were the most tolerant species towards air pollution (high APTI scores), while plants like Calotropis gigantea, Lantana camara, and Tectona grandis were proven to be bio-indicator species. Butea monosperma, Ficus benghalensis, Alstonia scholaris, and Terminalia arjuna were plant species with the highest DCC. Two-way ANOVA showed significant differences site-wise and season-wise in the biochemical parameters of APTI and a considerable difference site-wise with respect to dust capturing capacity. Correlation and regression analyses revealed a very high positive correlation between APTI and ascorbic acid value. The study recommends suitable plant species to manage rising air pollution in the coal mine and nearby areas apart from suggesting the development of a green belt.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Árboles , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Clorofila/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Polvo/análisis , Plantas , Hojas de la Planta/química , India , Carbón Mineral/análisisRESUMEN
Air pollution is one of the killers of our age especially for the urban areas. Urban forestry which involves planting more trees has been considered as one of the prominent strategies to mitigate air pollution. Identification of trees tolerant to air pollution is important for plantation drives being organized across the country. The present study aimed to compare the air pollution tolerance potential of 46 tree species growing in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus, Amritsar, using two indices, viz., Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). APTI is based on four biochemical parameters, viz., relative water content, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid contents of leaf samples, whereas API takes into consideration morphological and socioeconomic values of plant species along with their APTI. Based on APTI values calculated for 46 tree species, only 2 tree species, viz., Psidium guajava (46.26) and Cassia fistula (41.83), were found to be tolerant to air pollution, while 25 species showed intermediate tolerance. API scores revealed one tree species, namely, P. guajava, as an excellent performer, 8 species as very good performers, and 28 species as moderate to good performers against air pollution. In conclusion, tree species like Alstonia scholaris, C. fistula, Ficus tsjakela, Grevillea robusta, Kigelia africana, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, P. guajava, Pongamia pinnata, Pterospermum acerifolium, Putranjiva roxburghii, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, and Toona ciliata can be considered as most desirable for plantations in areas around GNDU campus.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Humanos , Árboles , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/toxicidad , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Agricultura Forestal , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminación del Aire/análisisRESUMEN
Rapid urbanization and rising vehicular population are the main precursors in increasing air pollutants concentration which negatively influences the surrounding ecosystem. Roadside plants are frequently used as the barrier against traffic emissions to minimize the effects of air pollution. They are, however, vulnerable to various contaminants, and their tolerance capacity varies. This necessitates a scientific inquiry into the role of roadside plantations in improved urban sprawl planning and management, where chosen trees could be cultivated to reduce air pollution. The present study assesses biochemical and physiological characteristics to evaluate the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The anticipated performance index (API) was assessed based on calculated APTI and socioeconomic characteristics of a selected common tree species along the roadside at different sites. According to APTI, Mangifera indica and Eugenia jambolana were the most tolerant species throughout all the sites, while Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa were intermediately tolerant towards air pollution. The one-way ANOVA shows no significant variation in APTI throughout all the sites. The regression plot shows the positive correlation of APTI with ascorbic acid among all the parameters. According to API, the Mangifera indica, Eugenia jambolana Ficus religiosa and Ficus benghalensis were excellent and best performers among all the sites. So, the air pollution-resistant tree species can be recommended for roadside plantations for the development of green belt areas in urban regions.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Mangifera , Árboles , Ecosistema , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hojas de la Planta/química , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/toxicidad , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisisRESUMEN
In urban areas around the world, air pollution introduced by vehicular movement is a key concern. However, restricting vehicular traffic during the COVID-19 shutdown improved air quality to some extent. This study was conducted out in the smart city of Bhubaneswar, which is also the state capital of Odisha, India. The study has tried to map Bhubaneswar by collecting the air quality data before, during, and after the COVID lockdown of six air quality monitoring stations present in Bhubaneswar established under "National Ambient Air Monitoring Program" (NAMP). Furthermore, plants, which are the most vulnerable to air pollution, can show a variety of visible changes depending on their level of sensitivity. Moreover, leaves of Mangifera indica, Monoon longifolium, Azadirachta indica, Millettia pinnata, Aegle marmelos were collected from nearby of six air monitoring stations to assess the "Air Pollution Tolerance Index." M. indica was found to be intermediately tolerant, and all of the other species were found to be sensitive. The structural equation modeling results also revealed a significant relationship between total chlorophyll content, relative water content, ascorbic acid content, leaf extract pH, APTI with species, air quality index, and PM10.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , COVID-19 , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Plantas , Hojas de la Planta/químicaRESUMEN
Dust causes adverse effects on the physiological and biochemical properties of plants, and under soil salinity conditions, these effects seem to be intensified, which limits their use in the development of the green belt around or within cities. In the research, the effect of salt (0, 30, and 60 dS m-1) on air pollution (dust, 0 and 1.5 g m-2 30 days-1) tolerance index (APTI), peroxidase activity, and protein content of three desert species Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Haloxylon aphyllum, and Nitraria schoberi was investigated. The results indicated that the use of dust alone did not change the concentration of total chlorophyll in H. aphyllum, while it decreased the concentration of total chlorophyll by 18% in N. schoberi and 21% in S. rosmarinus. Under salt stress conditions, before and after applying dust, the concentration of total chlorophyll decreased in S. rosmarinus and N. schoberi plants, but there was no change in H. aphyllum. The amount of ascorbic acid, peroxide activity, and pH increased significantly with increasing salinity level before and after applying dust. Applying dust alone increased pH value only in N. schoberi and the amount of ascorbic acid and peroxidase in all three plants. Applying dust alone reduced relative water content and APTI only in N. schoberi plant and the amount of protein in all three plants. At salinity level of 60 dS m-1 and with application of dust treatment, APTI was decreased by 10, 15, and 9% compared to its control before application of dust, respectively, in H. aphyllum, N. schoberi, and S. rosmarinus plants. Therefore, it was found that N. schoberi, which may be used as a bioindicator of air quality, has a lower APTI than S. rosmarinus and H. aphyllum, which may be served as suitable sinks to survive the air pollution (the development of a design on green belt around or within the city), under conditions of simultaneous application of dust and salt.
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Contaminación del Aire , Chenopodiaceae , Magnoliopsida , Rosmarinus , Salsola , Polvo , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Ácido Ascórbico , Clorofila , PeroxidasasRESUMEN
Air pollution is one of the major global environmental issues urgently needed attention for its control through sustainable approaches. The release of air pollutants from various anthropogenic and natural processes imposes serious threats to the environment and human health. The green belt development using air pollution-tolerant plant species has become popular approach for air pollution remediation. Plants' biochemical and physiological attributes, especially relative water content, pH, ascorbic acid, and total chlorophyll content, are taken into account for assessing air pollution tolerance index (APTI). In contrast, anticipated performance index (API) is assessed based on socio-economic characteristics including "canopy structure, type, habit, laminar structure, economic value and APTI score" of plant species. Based on previous work, plants with high dust-capturing capacity are identified in Ficus benghalensis L. (0.95 to 7.58 mg/cm2), and highest overall PM accumulation capacity was observed in Ulmus pumila L. (PM10 = 72 µg/cm2 and PM2.5 = 70 µg/cm2) in the study from different regions. According to APTI, the plant species such as M. indica (11 to 29), Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (6 to 24), and F. benghalensis (17 to 26) have been widely reported as high air pollution-tolerant species and good to best performer in terms of API at different study sites. Statistically, previous studies show that ascorbic acid (R2 = 0.90) has good correlation with APTI among all the parameters. The plant species with high pollution tolerance capacity can be recommended for future plantation and green belt development.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Restauración y Remediación Ambiental , Humanos , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hojas de la Planta/química , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Plantas , Ácido Ascórbico/farmacologíaRESUMEN
The undeniable impact of plants in reducing air pollution and the crucial role of nutrition in improving stress tolerance in plants has brought attention to the use of eco-friendly fertilizers. The objective of the study was to investigate how Biogas-digestate (BD) can enhance the tolerance of green roof plants in capturing air pollutants. Four plant species, namely reflexed stonecrop (Sedum reflexum), blue fescue (Festuca glauca), garden mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium), and Peppermint (Mentha piperita) were planted in three urban sites in Mashhad, Iran, with different levels of air pollution. The physiological, biochemical, and morphological characteristics of the treated plants were compared to assess their ability to trap air pollutants. The results showed that the treated M. piperita at Razavi with BD, exhibited the highest level of APTI. Although it was influenced by the site conditions, the determination of the optimum API yielded same results. The F. glauca treated in Khayyam had the highest proline content, while S. reflexum at the Honarestan site had the lowest H2O2 level, without significantly affecting BD. F. glauca, S. reflexum, and M. piperita exhibited the highest levels of SOD, PPO, and GPX activity, respectively, which were significantly increased by the BD treatment. Most of the heavy elements showed increased levels with BD treatment, and M. piperita had the highest concentrations of heavy elements. The leaf surfaces of S. reflexum and M. piperita, had the highest and lowest deposition of particulate matter (PMs), respectively. Carbon and oxygen constituted the majority of PMs on the surface of leaves at all three study locations. The following ranks included the elements Si, Ca, Mg, and Al. BD, particularly in the case of S. reflexum and M. piperita, enhanced the plants' tolerance to air pollution. It is recommended to cultivate S. reflexum using BD on the green roof in polluted areas due to its superior capacity to absorb PMs and the fact that it is not edible.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Biocombustibles/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Peróxido de Hidrógeno , Hojas de la Planta/química , PlantasRESUMEN
The current study aimed to assess how high concentrations of ozone (O3) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) alter biochemical properties of high yielding wheat cultivars (i.e., HD3086 and HD2967) grown under 10 km radius in 8 villages, located around Thermal Power Plant (TPP), Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. Significant foliar damage was brought on by O3 and SPM exposure in both wheat cultivars and noted for consecutive 2 years as per emission patterns, air movement and biochemical defense capabilities. The detected air pollutants at the chosen experimental site ranged from 34 to 46 ppb O3 and 139-189 µg/m3 SPM. Range of biochemical parameter for both cultivars are as pH 6.6-7.1, relative water content (RWC) 44-62%, chlorophyll 0.23-0.35 mg/g, ascorbic acid (AA) 54-68 mg/g and air pollution tolerance index (APTI) 47-72. It has been observed that SPM deposition had a meaningful impact (P-value = 0.05) on the chlorophyll, pH, RWC and APTI.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Ozono , Triticum/fisiología , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hojas de la Planta/química , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/toxicidad , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Clorofila/análisis , Ozono/toxicidad , Ozono/análisis , Material Particulado/análisis , Centrales EléctricasRESUMEN
Air quality has deteriorated in most big cities and becoming the fifth major cause of mortality in India. Among others, vehicle gaseous emission is a major contributor. Plants have different tolerance levels, which can be identified based on Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI). The objectives were to study the morphological and biochemical parameters for Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of selected roadside tree species (Acacia auriculiformis, Alstonia scholaris, Chukrasia tabularis, Cassia fistula, Cassia siamea, Dalbergia sissoo, Heterophragma adenophyllum, and Putranjiva roxburghii) at control (PAU campus) and polluted sites (roadside) during summer and winter seasons. The total chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid, leaf extract pH, leaf relative water content, total soluble sugar, phenols, and carotenoids ranged from 0.59 to 4.16 mg g-1, 1.03 to 3.75 mg g-1, 3.16 to 7.04, 46.01 to 71.65%, 10.78 to 23.83 mg g-1, 0.51 to 1.35 mg -1, and 0.19 to 1.96 mg g-1, respectively. The Air Pollution Tolerance Index of the selected trees ranged between7.65 and 11.19 and followed an order of Cassia fistula > Acacia auriculiformis > Dalbergia sissoo > Alstonia scholaris > Putranjiva roxburghii > Heterophragma adenophyllum > Cassia siamea > Chukrasia tabularis. The evaluation of Anticipated Performance Index (API) categorized the trees into poor (Dalbergia sissoo and Cassia siamea), moderate (Cassia fistula), and good (Acacia auriculiformis, Alstonia scholaris, Chukrasia tabularis, Heterophragma adenophyllum, and Putranjiva roxburghii) categories.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Árboles , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Emisiones de Vehículos , India , Hojas de la Planta/químicaRESUMEN
The rise in urbanization has led to an increase in dust pollution which is hazardous to the health of living beings. The role of roadside plant species in intercepting particulate matter and improving air quality is well reported. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the ability of various plant species to intercept atmospheric dust and withstand the abiotic stress triggered by dust deposition. In the present investigation, three sites (viz., control, commercial, and industrial) differing in anthropogenic activities and vegetation were selected. Sixteen plant species entailing both trees and shrubs that are commonly occurring at all three sites were selected to estimate their dust interception capacity (DIC). The impact of dust pollution on foliage biochemistry and their tolerance in winter and summer seasons were analyzed. Based on biochemical, biological, and socio-economic parameters, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) were evaluated. Both dust load and DIC were found to be two times higher in winter than in the summer season. Terminalia arjuna, Ficus benghalensis, and Plumeria alba were the best dust accumulators, while Prosopis juliflora accumulated least. The highest DIC was observed at the industrial site, for Terminalia arjuna (0.025 mg/cm2/d) in winter and Plumeria alba (0.023 mg/cm2/d) in the summer season. Photosynthetic pigments showed a negative correlation with dust load, while pH, ascorbic acid, electrolytic leakage (E.L.), and proline content showed a positive correlation. In the present study, APTI and API values were highest for Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Alstonia scholaris, Dalbergia sissoo, and Terminalia arjuna. Such plant species with wide canopy, large and rough leaf surface area with perforated veins are found to be more suitable and, hence, recommended for the development of greenery to improve air quality in urban areas like Delhi.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Polvo/análisis , Plantas , Material Particulado/análisis , Hojas de la Planta/química , Ácido Ascórbico/análisis , Prolina , IndiaRESUMEN
One of the most serious environmental issues is air pollution. Unlike other environmental concerns, this form of pollution is extremely challenging to regulate. The greenery of roadside trees plays a significant role in air purification and pollutant absorption, therefore helping to mitigate environmental pollution. Several plants can absorb and store toxins in their leaves from the atmosphere. Green plants have the potential to work as sinks and filters for air pollutants. Green belt development along national highways is a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method of reducing air pollution. Sensitive and tolerant plants against air pollution can be identified by evaluating their air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) values. In this study, the susceptibility level of plant species to air pollution was assessed using APTI and API. The four parameters on which APTI depends are ascorbic acid content, total chlorophyll content, relative water content, and leaf extract pH. For the estimation of API, the plant's biological and socioeconomic factors like tree habit, canopy structure, type, size, texture, and hardness of the plant are also assessed. These parameters were determined and incorporated into a formula that represents the APTI and API of plants. Moreover, multilinear regression modeling was performed using a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, V25) and found that pH and ascorbic acid content in plant leaves have a significant role in the calculation of APTI and tolerance potential of plants. Therefore, APTI was assessed with seventeen plant species that are abundant in the area along the national highway in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, from Jan to Mar 2020. The APTI showed that Saraca asoca was the most resistant to air pollution, whereas Vachellia nilotica was the most sensitive. In addition, plants with higher APTI can also be used to reduce air pollution, while plants with lower APTI can be utilized to monitor air pollution. Based on the calculated API score, it is found that Ficus elastica (% score > 90) is the best option for green belt development. Urban local body (ULB) can also adopt Ficus religiosa, Saraca asoca, and Aucuba japonica (having % a grade score of 80-90) for mitigation of air pollution. The study indicates that plantations of tolerant species are useful for biomonitoring and developing green belts on and along national highways.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Ácido Ascórbico/análisis , Clorofila/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , Extractos Vegetales , Plantas , Goma , Árboles/química , AguaRESUMEN
Most governmental initiatives in India, to leash down urban air pollution, have yielded little results till date, largely due to purely technocratic vision, which is shrouded by technological, economic, social, institutional, and political hardships. We present this reflective article on urban greenery, as a proposition to urban authorities (e.g., pollution regulators, environmental systems' managers, urban landscape planners, environmental policy makers), shift from purely technocratic way of thinking to thinking with nature, by strategic greening of urban spaces, for long-term air pollution prevention and control measures. To that end, we offer a meta-analysis of recent (post 2005) global literature using four-stage PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach. We open the narrative by briefing about main pollutant filtration mechanisms by trees, followed by cognitive aspects of species selection (e.g., deciduous vs. evergreen, air pollution tolerance index, environmental stressors). Till date, most Indian studies on urban greenery mostly but focused on physiological aspects of trees. Here, we draw attention of urban authorities to an equally compelling, but yet less explored, aspect: design criteria, with reference to two most common urban configurations, namely, street canyon and open road. With pictorial depictions, we enumerate various categories of street canyons and discuss aspect ratio (building height to street width) and various wind flow regimes (isolated roughness, wake interface, and skimming), that the urban authorities should be cognizant about to maximize pollutant removal efficiency. For open road, we discuss vegetation barriers, with special emphasis on canopy porosity/density functions. In the final sections, we reflect on a potential systems' thinking approach for on-ground implementation, comprising of revamping of urban forestry programs, research and development, community mobilization and stakeholder engagement, and strategic outreach. In addition, we emphasize on means to harness co-benefits of urban greenery, beyond mere pollutant removal, to garner support from urban residents' communities. Last but not the least, we also caution the urban authorities about the undesirable outcomes of urban greenery that will require more process-level research.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/prevención & control , Ciudades , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Modelos Teóricos , Emisiones de Vehículos/análisis , VientoRESUMEN
Air pollutants adversely affect the physiological, biochemical parameters, and productivity of the crops, but scarce and meager reports are available to know the certain impact of air pollution on crops. The aim of the present study was to assess environmental impact of air pollutants on biochemical parameters of the crops by monitoring two important indicators, i.e., Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). These two indicators provide the sensitivity and the tolerance level of the crops towards the air pollutants. Seven different crops were selected in four different locations in the vicinity of a thermal power plant. The results depicted the maximum aerial particulate matter deposition on crop canopy (ADCC) in barley (Hordeum vulgare 2.15 mg/cm2) and wheat (Triticum aestivum 2.21 mg/cm2). The maximum APTI value was found in berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum, 9.45 and 11.44) during the first and second year of study, respectively. Results indicated that all crops were sensitive to air pollution in the selected area, but berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) was less sensitive in comparison to other crops. API value showed that wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa) were best-suited crops in the selected study area as compared to other crops. It has been found in the study that the API and APTI are two important indicators for the selection of crops in the severe air polluting area.
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Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Productos Agrícolas , Ambiente , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hojas de la Planta/químicaRESUMEN
Abbottabad is a famous tourist destination due to its greenery and location. However, rapid increase in population and unplanned urbanization cause various environmental problems. Among different environmental stress, vehicular emission is the major issue for the survival and sustainability of plant species. This study aimed to investigate the effects of atmospheric pollution (caused by vehicular emission) on the anatomical, biochemical and morphological aspects of plant species present alongside the roads of Abbottabad, Pakistan. The plants were also collected from control sites (away from road-sites) for comparison. The results showed that various morphological characteristics of plant species including petiole length, vein-to-vein difference between leaves and length to breadth ratio of leaves were adversely affected by air pollution. The stomatal index varies in plant species because of variations in the numbers of epidermal cells. The air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of plant leaves from contaminated areas was reported to be higher as compared to control (non-contaminated) areas. Consequently, the findings from this study confirmed that plant species growing alongside of Abbottabad roads has greater tolerance than plant species growing in solitude areas away from road sites (control sites). Among different studied plants, Juglans regia, Morus nigra, Xanthium strumarium, Prunus armenica, Diospterus lotus and Populus ciliata have highest APTI and found to be more suitable for plantation in Abbottabad.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hojas de la Planta/química , Emisiones de Vehículos/análisis , Emisiones de Vehículos/toxicidadRESUMEN
Green vegetation enrichment is a cost-effective technique for reducing atmospheric pollution. Fifteen common tropical plant species were assessed for identifying their air pollution tolerance, anticipated performance, and metal accumulation capacity at Jharia Coalfield and Reference (JCF) site using Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI), Anticipated Performance Index (API), and Metal Accumulation Index (MAI). Metal accumulation efficiencies were observed to be highest for Ficus benghalensis L. (12.67mg/kg) and Ficus religiosa L. (10.71 mg/kg). The values of APTI were found to be highest at JCF for F. benghalensis (APTI: 25.21 ± 0.95), F. religiosa (APTI: 23.02 ± 0.21), Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. (APTI: 18.50 ± 0.43), Mangifera indica L. (APTI: 16.88 ± 0.65), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (APTI: 15.87 ± 0.21), and Moringa oleifera Lam. (APTI: 16.32 ± 0.66). F. benghalensis and F. religiosa were found to be excellent performers to mitigate air pollution at JCF as per their API score. Values of MAI, APTI, and API were observed to be lowest at reference sites for all the studied plant species due to absence of any air polluting sources. The findings revealed that air pollution played a significant impact in influencing the biochemical and physiological parameters of plants in a contaminated coal mining area. The species with the maximum MAI and APTI values might be employed in developing a green belt to minimize the levels of pollutants into the atmosphere.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente/métodos , India , Metales , Hojas de la Planta/química , PlantasRESUMEN
Increasing levels of pollution put plants under stress, leading to changes in their biochemical factors, which can be measured using the pollution tolerance index (APTI). APTI is a measure of environmental stress on flora, and it is calculated using four parameters (chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, relative water content, and pH). Earlier work in the same belt showed a positive correlation between stress and APTI but concentrated on woody trees only. This study was conducted in the Durgapur industrial belt, West Bengal, from August 2019 to February 2020. Eighteen plant species (herbs) were collected, assessed, and categorized as sensitive, intermediate, and tolerant based on their seasonal APTI values. Results showed that Solanum sisymbriifolium fell in the intermediate range in all three seasons. Persicaria sp. was identified as a tolerant species throughout and could be used to form a green belt. Persicaria orientalis was a sensitive species and can be used as an indicator of pollution.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Atmosféricos , Contaminación del Aire , Contaminantes Atmosféricos/análisis , Contaminación del Aire/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , India , Hojas de la Planta/químicaRESUMEN
The present study was conducted to assess the response of thermotolerant wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L. var. WR544) to individual and combination of ambient ground level ozone (AO3) and particulate matter (PM) air pollutants with ethylene diurea (EDU) used as an ozone stress mitigator. The four treatment combinations to which wheat cultivars were exposed are T1 (AO3 + PM), T2 (EDU + PM), T3 (AO3-PM), and T4 (EDU-PM). The effect of different treatments on morphological (foliar ozone injury, leaf area, shoot height, number of leaves, and total biomass), biochemical (leaf extract pH, electrical conductivity, relative water content, total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid content), nutritional (leaf carbohydrate content and leaf protein content), and yield (biological yield, economic yield, and harvest index) attributes of the cultivar were monitored. The plants under T1 experienced 20-30% foliar ozone injury and recorded lowest economic yield (0.58 g/plant). Plants under T2 and T3 showed visible foliar ozone injury range between 0 and 5% whereas plants under T4 exhibited negligible ozone injuries. EDU-treated plants without PM deposition (T4) exhibited better morphology, leaf protein content, leaf carbohydrate content, biological and economic yield as compared to T1-, T2-, and T3-treated plants but EDU was only partially effective. Despite being a thermotolerant variety, WR544 gets adversely affected by the individual and combined exposure of AO3 and PM air pollutants. These result findings highlighted the need for more detailed study of air quality impact on the thermotolerant cultivars of other key crops to individual and combined air pollutants.