Air pollution tolerance index of plants

Abstract

In order to evaluate the susceptibility level of plants to air pollutants, four parameters, namely ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, relative water content, and leaf-extract pH, were determined and computed together in a formulation signifying the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of plants. APTI values of 69 plant species, including herbs shrubs and trees, growing in the urban-industrial Lahartara region of Varanasi were estimated. Plants with a high index value were tolerant to air pollutants and vice-versa. On the basis of their indices, different plant groups were categorized into sensitive, intermediate, moderately tolerant plant groups were categorized into sensitive, intermediate, moderately gigantea, C. roseus, etc. were tolerant and D. sissoo, L. chinensis, C. carandus, C. rottleri, etc. were sensitive to air pollutant. The susceptibility level of plants to air pollution, as indicated through their index values, compared well with the responses of plants observed under laboratory and field experiments. The APTI determination provides a reliable method for screening sensitive/tolerant plants under field conditions where the air-shed is contamined by a variety of pollutants. © 1991 Academic Press Limited.