Evaluation of air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of plants growing alongside inner ring road of Kathmandu, Nepal

Author(s):  
Sabina Timilsina ◽  
Sudarshana Shakya ◽  
Sujan Chaudhary ◽  
Gyanu Thapa Magar ◽  
Nabin Narayan Munankarmi
Author(s):  
Aasawari A. Tak ◽  
Umesh B. Kakde

Objective: Air pollution is one of the major global tribulations in many developing cities around the world. Addressing this sort of pollution is more intricate than other ecological challenges. As pollution is an upcoming issue, we aimed at assessing the air pollution tolerant plants from roadside exposed to vehicular air pollution from two different locations in Thane city.Methods: In the present study, commonly available ten roadside tree species selected from polluted and control area, and their air pollution tolerance index (APTI) determined in Thane city. The biochemical parameters viz. pH, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC) were considered to calculate APTI by using standard method.Results: The study shows that the control site has more APTI than the polluted site. The APTI observed minimum in Tectona grandis 5.2±0.3247 and maximum in Azadirachta indica 13.5±0.4404. Reduction in APTI at polluted site shows that Alstonia scholaris (6.6%), Tamarindus indica (8.8%) and Azadirachta indica (10.3%) were the most tolerant tree species, while Tectona grandis (47.5%), Acacia nilotica (27.4%) and Cassia fistula (20.7%) were more sensitive tree species. The results showed the order of tolerance (% difference in APTI) as Alstonia scholaris (6.6%)>Tamarindus indica (8.8%)>Azadirachta indica (10.3%)>Moringa pterygosperma (11.9%)>Mangifera indica (13.9%)>Bahunia variegate (14.3%)>Annona squamosa (18.7%)>Cassia fistula (20.7%)>Acacia nilotica (27.4%)>Tectona grandis (47.5%).Conclusion: Tolerant trees species can serve as a sink, and sensitive tree species can act as an indicator for air pollution mitigation. Thus, this study provides useful insights for selecting tolerant species for future planning and Greenbelt development in urban areas.


Author(s):  
Jiban Jyoti Das

Industrialization is an important aspect of a growing economy. However, rapid industrialization has caused many serious impacts on the environment. One such impact is the deteriorating air quality, especially around industries. It is said that afforestation is the best and simplest way for improving the air quality. Also, trees and plants have been increasingly used as filters for dust particles around the home, traffic roads, etc. In scientific studies, it has also been found that trees and plant leaves can be used to assess the ambient air quality by an index called the Air pollution tolerance index. A literature search has been done on the scientific database like Sciencedirect and Researchgate to review the existing knowledge of Air pollution tolerance index and to find the tolerant and sensitive species based on it so that these species can be selectively planted to assess the ambient air quality and also to develop a better green belt around refineries and industries in Assam. The study has reviewed the linkage of the impact of air pollution on leaves of plants and trees through scientific evidence. Through such scientific reviews, the most tolerant species of trees and plants were chosen with the condition that it can grow under the climatic condition of Assam. The recommendation and suggestions of tolerant tree and plant species can be used for specific species plantations for developing green belts around refineries and industries in Assam. The recommendation of sensitive species can be used for monitoring ambient air quality with reference to other standard procedures. KEYWORDS: Air pollution tolerance index, Industries, Air- pollution, Green belt


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaya Prakash Hamal ◽  
Mukesh Kumar Chettri

Response of plants towards air pollution is assessed by air pollution tolerance index (APTI). Four species of Gymnosperms (Thuja orientiales, Cedrus deodara, Pinus roxburghii and Araucaria bidwillii) were evaluated for APTI. Leaves were collected during winter season from polluted sites (Airport, Dhumbarahi, Jawalakhel, Ratnapark, and Sankhapark) and less polluted site (Narayanthan) of Kathmandu valley. Of four gymnosperm species collected from road side, all species (Cedrus deodara, Araucaria bidwillii, Thuja orientiales and Pinus roxburghii) showed high value of APTI (i.e., more than 8), indicating their resistance to air pollution.ECOPRINT 24: 13-19, 2017


Author(s):  
Krishnaveni M. ◽  
M . Saran Kumar ◽  
Anithasri G. ◽  
Nanthini S. ◽  
Gowsalya K. ◽  
...  

Air pollution due to huge number of vehicles emitting toxic gas poisons both living environment affecting fauna and flora. Road side plants are affected mostly by pollution as they are primary acceptors and gets reflected in terms of tolerance and sensitivity to pollution. Hence, the present work was designed to study the air pollution tolerance (APTI) using biochemical parameters and anticipated performance index (API) of the plants collected near seven different locations. Among the plants assessed, all plants selected does not show much difference in ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, pH, relative water content, but that slight difference exhibited variations in air pollution tolerance index. Pongamia pinnata (33.16), Ficus religiosa (34.05) Near Asian rubber Industry, Kandampatty Byepass, Salem was found to be a tolerant species, Polyalthia longifolia (8.21) as very sensitive in plants studied Near KMB Granites Pvt. Ltd. Kottagoundampatty, Salem, and the rest was found to be moderately tolerent. Since, the studied plants show lesser surface area, the amount of dust collected was also less, which might be due to the climatic condition prevailed at that time of sample collection. Likewise, the API was found to be excellent in Yercaud lake view and very good in study area Duroflex company, Karimangalam, Dharmapuri, poor in study area Thanithotty Quarry, Salem as well as in KMB granites Pvt.Ltd. and good for the remaining three locations. So, the sensitive plants has to be protected that are located in these sites to reduce the pollution load.


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 106234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanda Éva Molnár ◽  
Edina Simon ◽  
Béla Tóthmérész ◽  
Sarawut Ninsawat ◽  
Szilárd Szabó

1991 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.K. Singh ◽  
D.N. Rao ◽  
M. Agrawal ◽  
J. Pandey ◽  
D. Naryan

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myeong Ja Kwak ◽  
Jong Kyu Lee ◽  
Sanghee Park ◽  
Yea Ji Lim ◽  
Handong Kim ◽  
...  

Potentials of tree species as biofilters depend on appropriate selection based on their tolerance to air pollution, which is usually evaluated by the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API). Thus, these index values need as a means of scientific understanding to assess the role of urban trees for better greenspace planning/management to mitigate impacts of gaseous air pollution such as ozone (O3) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). O3 exposure to Chionanthus retusus, Pinus densiflora, and Ginkgo biloba showed higher stomatal O3 flux than the others, finally resulting in both favoring stomatal movement and maintaining carbon fixation. In contrast, despite the whole tree enhanced SO2 uptake under excess SO2 exposure, the carbon assimilation capacity was only found in Taxus cuspidata and Zelkova serrata as a consequence of no stomatal sluggishness. On the basis of API, P. densiflora and Prunus × yedoensis were good performers for developing greenspace, while Z. serrata and G. biloba were moderate performers; however, C. retusus and T. cuspidata were estimated to be poor and very poor performers, respectively, for reducing the air quality injury caused by air pollutants. The present study suggests that an integration of both APTI and API based on stomatal absorption flux is needed for selecting sound tree-species in greenspace planning/construction to control gaseous air pollutions.


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