Phytomonitoring and Mitigation of Air Pollution by Plants

Abstract

The urban environment is degrading globally at a more rapid pace than seen in the last few decades. Measures are taken in order to save the environment from rapid diffusing atmospheric pollution; however, the approach seems to be too slow either due to policies by the respective governments or lack of conviction. Air pollution monitoring is the initial step toward controlling the decay of bio-sustainable air. There are various methods to monitor air quality and its components using instrumental and chemical methods. These methods prove to be expensive and do not reflect the impact on living beings. Plants are stationary; hence, they participate and indicate the changes occurring in an environment. Several studies are done globally emphasizing the role of locally available vegetation as phytomonitor. In order to do so, various morphological, visual, and biochemical parameters are employed. The concept is based on the fact that different plant species respond differently to ambient air which can be used to quantify pollution. Different plants species also react in a varied way to different air pollutants. The pattern of air pollution also differs within and between the countries. That plants act as sinks of pollution is a well-known fact. Several researchers have enormously explained the biochemical pathways of air pollutants within the plants. The current work explores the practical case studies of phytomonitoring and the function of plants in mitigating air pollution. Plants from different locations around the industrial area were studied for their morphological and biochemical changes due to air pollution. Studies carried out to know the dust-capturing efficiencies of plants are discussed. The role of plants in mitigating airborne metals, either on the surface or as accumulators, is enumerated. For development of greenbelt, several tree species are also suggested here based on their resistance to air pollutants.