Role of Plants in Biomonitoring Vehicular Emissions

Abstract

Introduction: Air pollution caused by the pollutants present in the atmosphere which is harmful to the
environment and the living population. The plants showed stunted growth, animal’s causes various form
of diseases and the pollutants harmfully affect the human beings by causing respiratory problems and the
whole environment is totally affected causing depletion of ozone layer and that directly or indirectly affects
the living system present in the environment.
Materials and Method: The leaf samples were collected from the Sholinganallur area and authenticated.
Later the samples were characterized for morphological characters, pigment analysis, Biochemical
parameters and the score of tolerance index of Air pollution was calculated were tabled and graphed as per
the standard protocol.
Results: The samples were collected from sholinganallur traffic zonal area and totally 14 leaf samples were
gathered from the experimental site and was authenticated. The morphological characters of length and
width of leaf samples were calculated and in Biochemical parameters, pH of leaf, Relative water content
and ascorbic acid content showed good activity in evergreen shrub. In pigment analysis of chlorophyll,
the maximum and minimum amount was found in evergreen shrub Bougainvillea glabra with 68.72mg/g
and Tecoma capensis in 14.72mg/g. The APTI value was maximum and minimum in evergreen shrub
Tabernaemontana divaricata with 114.66 and Nerium oleander with 48.05.
Conclusion: The plants found in and around the experimental area possess good activity against the air
pollution and these plants can be kept at the roadside to prevent and withstand the air pollution in the
environment.