Biochemical Parameters and Air Pollution Tolerance Index of Trees along New Ife Road and Within Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Poor air quality is one of the renowned issues instigating health complications in urban areas today due to man’s exposure to various gases. The paper assessed the ambient air along New Ife Road (NIR) and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria Headquarters (FRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State using Biochemical changes and computed the air pollution tolerance indices from fresh leaf samples of ten (10) similar plant species selected randomly in triplicates in both study locations. Monoon longifolium, Chrysophyllum albidum, Terminalia catappa, Dacryodes edulis and Terminalia ivorensis had tolerant APTI values; Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava, Terminalia ivorensis, Terminalia catappa and Cocos nucifera were intermediate APTI while Mangifera indica, Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica were found to be sensitive to air pollution. The APTI values at both locations are not significantly different; therefore NIR and FRIN are rated as areas of high anthropogenic activities. Terminalia ivorensis, (31.58 in NIR) Terminalia catappa (30.56 in FRIN) Dacryodes edulis, (31.15 in NIR and 34.76 in FRIN) (Chrysophyllum albidum (34.78 in NIR and 39.78 in FRIN) and Monoon longifolium (49.83 in NIR and 57.50 in FRIN) were classified as sink of air pollution based on their APTI values which ranged from 30>100 obtained in both locations of study. It is however suggested that these plants identified as sink of air pollutants, should be used for landscaping and planted 50m from the roadside for bio-filtration of the atmosphere.