Analysis on Air Pollution Tolerence Index of Plants Located at selected Sites at Salem and Namakkal District

[...]the present study was planned to assess the air pollution tolerance index of the plant at five different places in Salem, Namakkal District. Introduction of chemicals, biological or particulate matter by humans that damage the environment, deteriorating air quality is a serious problem affecting the surrounding environment where we are living, as polluted air affects plants both directly and indirectly either through leaves or acidified soils. The degree of tolerance to air pollution was measured by biochemical parameters like pH, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll, relative water content. Ascorbic acid plays a role in the cell wall synthesis, defense and cell division.8 It is also a strong reducer and plays an important role in photosynthetic carbon fixation.9 Moreover, its high level in plants indicated high tolerance level of plant species against pollutions and its lower values rank the plants in a sensitive category against air pollution.10,11 Thus, the decrease in the ascorbic acid content of plant species at polluted area may be due to vehicular emissions.The sensitive species indicates air pollution, while tolerant species help in abatement of air pollution.