Impact of air pollution on accumulation of heavy metals in leaves of the,plants eucalyptus camaldulensis (dehnhardt.) and ficus retusa (l.)

Includes references.

The present work investigates the impact of air pollution on the structure and uptake of heavy metals by the leaves of two common street trees in Egypt; Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnhardt.) and Ficus retusa (L.). Five different highly polluted sites were chosen in comparison with a control site; these sites were affected by emissions from: iron & steel, cement, limestone, traffic and smelters. Air pollution led to marked malformations in the leaves of both species; buming of blade tips, chlorosis and bending of blades are common symptoms. The internal structure of the leaf was also altered with reduced vascular tissue and thickness of midvein. Pollutants accumulated in leaf tissues and on leaf surface to different extents and level of accumulation differed according to the plant and the site of study. For the two plants, the concentrations in leaf tissues of Ni was highest at traffic site, of Fe and Cd at iron & steel, of Zn and Cu at smelters site. In general, the contents of heavy metals in leaf tissues were least at limestone site and highest at iron & steel and smelters.

Summary in Arabic.

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