Soil and Air Pollutant Loads on Plants from a Cement factory in Haridwar District, Uttarakhand

Abstract

The air and soil quality in the vicinity of cement industry influences the soil properties and distribution pattern of plants. Sensitive plant species are abolished from such areas, however, only pollution tolerant species survive under stress conditions. In this study, the potentially toxic metal pollution in soil and Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of plants occuring nearby the cement industry, Bhagwanpur (Haridwar) were evaluated. Four biochemical parameters such as leaf relative water content (RWC), ascorbic acid (AA) content, total leaf chlorophyll (TCh), and leaf extract pH were used to develop an APTI. It was found that the soil in the vicinity of cement industry was having high concentrations of potentially toxic metals in comparison to control but within the permissible limits as per international standards. Twenty four plant species growing near a cement factory, an air pollution point source, were collected and analysed for APTI. The APTI was found in the range of 10.68 to 43.50. Cyperus rotendusand Cynodon dactylon were found to be having high APTI. The results highlighted the need for regular monitoring of potentially toxic metals in soil and APTI measurements to be conducted throughout the growing season.