Suspended particulate matter deposition and its impact on urban trees

Fine particulate matter of industrial and traffic emissions can cause serious health hazard to urban population. However, roadside trees can be particularly effective at capturing air suspended pollutants in urban areas. This study aimed to determine the dust removal efficiency of commonly present road side trees and to identify the air pollution tolerant tree species for their suitability as sustainable green-filtration unit of urban areas. The study was conducted at tropical wet-dry climate city Gandhinagar of India and found that the maximum level of dust was deposited in winter season followed by summer and minimum in monsoon season. However, dust deposition negatively influence the leaf dry weight, photosynthesis pigments, membrane permeability, stomatal index and develop oxidative stress as measured in term of ascorbic acid in all the experimental trees. Study concluded that the Ficus religiosa is superior air pollution tolerant plant species with moderate dust removal capacity while Dalbergia sissoo is moderately air pollution tolerant species with highest dust removal capacity. Therefore, Ficus religiosa and Dalbergia sissoo could be preferred over other species to develop sustainable green-filtration space.