Effect of Air Pollutants on Urban Roadside Trees in Shivajinagar & Pashan Area, Pune City

Abstract

Roadside urban trees have great potential to control air pollution. This study evaluates the impact of air pollutants (PM 10 & 2.5, SOx, NOx) on the morphology of Polyalthia longofolia (Ashoka tree) & Ficus racemosa (Umbar tree) in Shivajinagar and Pashan area of Pune city. APTI (Air Pollution Tolerance Index) was calculated by estimating pH, R.W.C. (Relative water content), Ascorbic acid (A.A.) & Total chlorophyll (T.C.). The result reveals that the various oxides studied are within the permissible limits as suggested by NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standard) and WHO (World Health Organisation). However, PM 10 & PM 2.5 were found to be above the permissible limit standards prescribed by NAAQS and WHO. Ficus racemosa was found to be intermediate to air pollution, and Polyalthia longofolia was tolerant of air pollution in Shivajinagar and Pashan areas. Thus Ficus racemosa & Polyalthia longofolia can be planted to mitigate air pollution.