Evaluation of air quality through various bioparameters near Valankulam lake, Coimbatore

Abstract

Road and bridge construction close to lakes generates a lot of dust, which pollutes the air in that area. This is about the negative effects of vegetation activities. Some have the tolerance capacity, while others do not, leading to adverse effects. The study focuses on the air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of trees near Valankulam Lake in Coimbatore. Physiological and biochemical factors were employed to determine the APTI. The leaves of 19 trees were collected for the study and tested for ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll concentration, leaf pH, and relative water content. Albizzia lebbeck was found to have the highest tolerance value (88.81), followed by Ficus religiosa, Bougainvillaea spectabilis, Nerium oleander, Ricinus communis, Thevetia peruviana, Azadirachta indica and Tamarindus indica.  Tectona grandis (8.01) is the most vulnerable to pollution, followed by Pongamia pinnata, Vitex negundo and Tecoma stans. According to the findings, the tolerant species can serve as a source, while the sensitive plants serve as a signal of pollution.