Effect of traffic pollution on photosynthesis

Abstract

Vehicular exhaust is considered as one of the worst form of environmental pollution. To assess the effect of traffic pollution on photosynthesis, leaf samples of four different types of plants at different distances from the busy traffic road were collected from Wah. The samples consisted of sunny, shady and semi shady leaves of Orange, Guava, Loquat and Eucalyptus trees. The wet leaves were minced and homogenized before undertaking analysis for different parameters like total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotene content. The results showed that average values of total chlorophyll varied in the range of 0.004-0.019, chlorophyll a and b in the range of 0.009-0.01 and carotene content in the range of 0.17-0.22g/l of the sample taken. These values were in decreasing order of sunny/ semishady/ shady. The concentration of all the pigments increased as the distance from the busy road increased. In order to verify the bad effect of traffic pollution, the under groundwater in the vicinity of the trees under study were collected and analyzed for pH, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulphate ions. The pH and hardness values of water samples were higher than the normal values but the conductivity was lower the desired value. The particulate matter, CO, SO₂ and NO₂ concentration in air samples collected from the roadside were within the permissible levels. But the lead concentration was above the permissible limits. The concentrations of lead, CO, SO₂ and NO₂ and particulates were comparatively higher in the dense traffic areas and their concentrations tend to decrease as we go away from the busy roads. Water and air quality analysis showed that vehicular exhaust had significant effect on the photosynthesis of plants.


Journal of Environmental Extension Vol.4 2003: 51-54