Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Identification and evaluation of air-pollution-tolerant plants around lignite-based thermal power station for greenbelt development

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Thermal power plants emit various gaseous and particulate pollutants into the atmosphere. It is well known that trees help to reduce air pollution. Development of a greenbelt with suitable plant species around the source of emission will mitigate the air pollution. Selection of suitable plant species for a greenbelt is very important.

Materials and methods

Present study evaluates different plant species around Neyveli thermal power plant by calculating the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) which is based on their significant biochemical parameters. Also Anticipated Performance Index (API) was calculated for these plant species by combining APTI values with other socio-economic and biological parameters.

Discussion

Based on these indices, the most appropriate plant species were identified for the development of a greenbelt around the thermal power plant to mitigate air pollution. Among the 30 different plant species evaluated, Mangifere indica L. was identified as keystone species which is coming under the excellent category.

Conclusion

Ambient air quality parameters were correlated with the biochemical characteristics of plant leaves and significant changes were observed in the plants biochemical characteristics due to the air pollution stress.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnon DI (1949) Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase in Beta vulgaris. Plant Physiol 24:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Athar M, Ali M, Khan MA (2010) Gaseous and particulate emissions from thermal power plants operating on different technologies. Environ Monit Assess 166:625–639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bajaj KL, Kaur G (1981) Spectrophotometric determination of L. ascorbic acid in vegetables and fruits. Analyst 106:117–120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bamniya BR, Kapoor CS, Kapoor K (2011) Searching for efficient sink for air pollutants: studies on Mangifera indica L. Clean Technol Environ Policy. doi:10.1007/s10098-011-0382-0

  • Bansal S (1988) Studies on the effect of certain atmospheric pollutants on fruit diseases of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Caused by Alternaria alternate. Dissertation, Bhopal University

  • Chaudhari PR, Gajghate DG (2000) Assessment of air pollution effect on plants—a review. Indian J Environ Prot 20:925–933

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhari PR, Gajghate DG, Dhadse S, Suple S, Satapathy DR, Wate SR (2007) Monitoring of environmental parameters for CO2 sequestration: a case study of Nagpur City, India. Environ Monit Assess 135:281–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaulya SK (2004) Assessment and management of air quality for an opencast coal mining area. J Environ Manag 70:1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaulya SK, Chakraborty MK, Singh RS (2001) Air pollution modeling for a proposed limestone quarry. Water Air Soil Pollut 126:171–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CMRI (1998) Determination of emission factor for various opencast mining activities, Report GAP/9/EMG/MOEF/97. Central Mining Research Institute, Environmental Management Group, Dhanbad

    Google Scholar 

  • Crabbe H, Beaumont R, Norton D (2000) Assessment of air quality, emissions and management in a local urban environment. Environ Monit Assess 65:435–442

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davies T (1980) Grasses more sensitive to SO2 pollution in conditions of low irradiance and short days. Nature 284:483–485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dedio W (1975) Water relations in wheat leaves as screening tests for drought resistance. Can J Plant Sci 55:369–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dhindsa RS, Plumb-Dhindsa PL, Reid DM (1982) Leaf senescence and lipid peroxidation: effects of some phytohormones and free radical scavengers. Plant Physiol 69(Suppl):10, Abstract No. 48

    Google Scholar 

  • Dochinger LS (1980) Interception of air borne particulates by tree planting. J Environ Qual 9:265–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman B (1989) Environmental ecology: the impacts of pollution and other stresses on ecosystem structure and function. Academic, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghose MK, Majee SR (2007) Characteristics of hazardous airborne dust around an Indian surface coal mining area. Environ Monit Assess 130:17–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halliwell B, Gutteridge JMC (1989) Free radicals in medicine and biology. Clarendon, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Henson IE, Mahalakshmi V, Bidinger FR, Alagarswamy G (1981) Genotypic variation in pearl miller (Pennisetum americanum L.) Leeke in the ability to accumulate abscisic acid in response on water stress. J Exp Bot 32:899–910

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill AC (1971) Vegetation: a sink for atmospheric pollutants. J Air Pollut Control Assoc 21:341–346

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones T, Mansfield TA (1982) The effect of on growth and development of seedlings of Phleum pretense under different light and temperature environments. Environ Pollut 27:57–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi OP, Pawar K, Wagela DK (1993) Air quality monitoring of Indore city with special reference to SO2 and tree barks pH. J Environ Biol 14:157–162

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kapoor RK, Gupta VK (1984) A pollution attenuation coefficient concept for optimization of green belt. Atmos Environ 18:1107–1117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz M (1997) Methods for air sampling and analysis. APHA, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller T, Schwager H (1977) Air pollution and ascorbic acid. Eur J Forest Pathol 7:338–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan FI, Abbasi SA (2000) Attenuation of gaseous pollutants by greenbelts. Environ Monit Assess 64:457–475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan FI, Abbasi SA (2001) Effective design of greenbelts using mathematical models. J Hazard Mater 81:33–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar CSS, Kumar P, Deshpande VP, Badrinath SD (1994) Fugitive dust emission estimation and validation of air quality model in bauxite mines. In: Khuntia GS (ed) Proceedings of International Conference on Environmental Issues in Minerals and Energy Industry. IME Publications, New Delhi, pp 77–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin DA (1976) Air pollution—threat and responses. Addison, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Nanda SN, Tiwary SN (2001) Concentration of SPM in the Burla–Hirakud–Sambalpur region (Orissa). Indian J Environ Prot 21:193–202

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nighat F, Mahmooduzzafar, Iqbal M (2008) Coal-smoke pollution modifies physio-chemical characteristics of tissues during the ontogeny of Peristrophe bicalyculata. Biologia 63:1128–1134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prajapati SK, Tripathi BD (2008) Anticipated performance Index of some tree species considered for green belt development in and around an urban area: a case study of Varanasi city, India. J Environ Manag 88:1343–1349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad BJ, Rao DN (1982) Relative sensitivity of a leguminous and a cereal crop to sulphur dioxide pollution. Environ Pollut 29:57–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prusty BA, Mishra PC, Azeezb PA (2005) Dust accumulation and leaf pigment content in vegetation near the national highway at Sambalpur, Orissa, India. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 60:228–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Puckett KJ, Nieboer E, Flora WP, Richardson DHS (1973) Sulphur dioxide: its effect on photosynthetic 14C fixation in lichens and suggested mechanism of phytotoxicity. New Phytol 72:141–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao DN (1983) Sulphur dioxide pollution versus plant injury with special reference to fumigation and precipitation. In: Proceedings of Symposium on air pollution control, Vol. 1, Indian Association for Air pollution control, New Delhi, pp 91–96

  • Reddy GS, Ruj B (2003) Ambient air quality status in Raniganj-Asansol area, India. Environ Monit Assess 89:153–163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romney EM, Lindberg RG, Hawthorne HA, Bystrom BG, Larson KH (1963) Contamination of plant foliage with radioactive fallout. Ecology 44:343–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandelius AS, Naslund K, Carlson AS, Pleijel H, Sellden G (1995) Exposure of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) to ozone in open top chambers. Effects on acyl lipid composition and chlorophyll content of flag leaves. New Phytol 131:231–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shannigrahi AS, Agrawal KM (1996) An overview on optimal greenbelt development for industrial project. Indian J Environ Prot 17:253–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Shannigrahi AS, Fukushuma T, Sharma RC (2004) Anticipated air pollution tolerance of some plant species considered for greenbelt development in and around an industrial/urban area in India: an overview. Int J Environ Stud 61:125–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma SC, Roy RK (1997) Green belt—an effective means of mitigating industrial pollution. Indian J Environ Prot 17:724–727

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma AP, Tripathi BD (2008) Biochemical responses in tree foliage exposed to coal-fired power plant emission in seasonally dry tropical environment. Environ Monit Assess 158:197–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Rao DN (1983) Evaluation of plants for their tolerance to air pollution. In: Proceedings of symposium on air pollution control, Vol. 1. Indian Association for Air Pollution Control, New Delhi, pp 218–224

  • Singh N, Singh SN, Srivastava K, Yunus M, Ahmad KJ, Sharma SC et al (1990) Relative sensitivity and tolerance of some Gladiolus cultivars to sulphur dioxide. Ann Bot 65:41–44

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smardon RC (1988) Perception and aesthetics of urban environment: review of the role of vegetation. Landsc Urban Plan 15:85–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tayanc M (2000) An assessment of spatial and temporal variation of sulphur dioxide levels over Istanbul, Turkey. Environ Pollut 107:61–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JS, Reid DM, Pharis RP (1981) Mutual antagonism of sulphur dioxide and abscisic acid in the effect on stomatal aperture in broad bean (Vivia faba L.) epidermal strips. Plant Physiol 77:944–947

    Google Scholar 

  • Thawale PR, Satheesh Babu S, Wakode RR, Singh SK, Kumar S, Juwarkar AA (2011) Biochemical changes in plant leaves as a biomarker of pollution due to anthropogenic activity. Environ Monit Assess 177:527–535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varshney CK, Mitra I (1993) Importance of hedges in improving urban air quality. Landsc Urban Plan 25:75–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varshney SRK, Varshney CK (1984) Effect of SO2 on ascorbic acid in crop plants. Environ Pollut 35:285–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verma A (2003) Attenuation of automobile generated air pollution by higher plants. Dissertation, University of Lucknow

  • Vora AB, Bhatnagar AR (1987) Comparative study of dust fall on the leaves in high pollution and low pollution area in Ahmedabad. V. Caused foliar injury. J Environ Biol 8:339–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler AJ, Williams I, Beaumont RA, Manilton RS (2000) Characterisation of particulate matter sampled during a study of children’s personal exposure to air borne particulate matter in a UK urban environment. Environ Monit Assess 65:69–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitmore ME, Mansfield TA (1983) Effects of long-term exposures to SO2 and NO2 on Poa pratensis and other grasses. Environ Pollut 31:217–235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yunus M, Iqbal M (1996) Plant response to air pollution. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, for their financial assistance to carry out a major research project on CO2 sequestration programme, 2008.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-Spatial Technology Research Unit, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, School of Environmental Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 024, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. Govindaraju, R. S. Ganeshkumar, V. R. Muthukumaran & P. Visvanathan

Authors
  1. M. Govindaraju
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. S. Ganeshkumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. R. Muthukumaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Visvanathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Govindaraju.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Euripides Stephanou

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Govindaraju, M., Ganeshkumar, R.S., Muthukumaran, V.R. et al. Identification and evaluation of air-pollution-tolerant plants around lignite-based thermal power station for greenbelt development. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 1210–1223 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0637-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0637-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation