ASSESSMENT OF AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX OF PLANT SPECIES GROWING NEAR METAL CASTING FOUNDRIES AROUNDPEELAMEDU, COIMBATORE.

Abstract

The study examined Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of 35 plants growing near metal casting foundries located in and around Peelamedu, Coimbatore. Four physiological and biochemical parameters of plant leaves namely total chlorophyll content, relative water content, pH, and ascorbic acid content which can be used as predictor of air quality. It is observed that Lantana indica, Nerium indicum, Duranta repens,Amaranthus viridis, Ricinus communis, Bauhinia racemosa and Samanea saman, showed higher APTI values. The study indicates that plantation of tolerant species are useful for bio monitoring and to develop green belt in and around industrial areas. Introduction:-Air pollution was earlier considered as a local problem around large point sources. But due to the use of tall stacks and long range transport of pollutants, it has become a regional problem. Many developing countries including India have experience a progressive degradation in air quality as a result of rapid pace of development over the last three decades. During this period newly industrialized countries underwent unparalleled economic growth, swelling urban populations and generated excessive emissions from automobiles, factories and refuse burning (Agbaire and Esiefarienrhe 2009). Much of the 20 th century witnessed an increasing trend in urbanization in developing countries. While urbanization is a stimulus of development, in the process many cities in Asia, Africa, the Near East and Latin America are facing two challenges of pollution and congestion (Ashmore, 2005). Air pollution is more complex than most other environmental challenges. No physical or chemical methods are known to ameliorate air pollution. A suitable alternative is to develop a biological by growing green plants in and around industrial and urban areas (Shannigrahi et al., 2004, Ghose and Majee 2001 and Aarti et al., 2012).