Abstract
Anthropogenic pollution can take various forms and affect the air, water, soil, and plants. Monitoring pollution via compounds formed in living organisms such as plants, so-called bioindicators, may be a useful approach for environmental monitoring. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare plants growing in industrial and residential areas of Sadat City, Egypt, as bioindicators and biomarkers of industrial pollution. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and metals were measured in Bougainvillea glabra (paperflower) leaves by HPLC-MS, neutron activation analysis, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Air, water, and soil samples associated with B. glabra sampled in industrial and residential areas were also analyzed for the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, metals, and particulate matter. There were significantly higher levels of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the leaf extracts of plants growing in industrial areas compared to those growing in residential zones (P<0.05). Metal accumulation in leaves was also significantly higher in the industrial zone than the residential zone: iron, lead, zinc, nickel, and manganese were present at significantly higher levels in plants in the industrial zone compared to those growing in the residential zone (P<0.05); nevertheless, the concentrations of heavy metals in the air, water, and soil were under local legal environmental limits. This study demonstrates that pollution has significant effects on total phenolic, flavonoid and metal levels in B. glabra plants, not only demonstrating the effects of pollution on ecosystem health but also paving the way for using plants as bioindicators and for phytoremediation.
Highlights
Air- and water-borne pollution is an undesirable consequence of industrialization that is having a growing impact on productivity, health, and climate change [1,2,3,4,5]
The leaves of plants in the industrial zone had discolored, dusty, and wrinkled leaves compared to their counterparts growing in the residential zone, which had smooth surfaces and edges and were clean with no wrinkles and normal edges (Fig 2)
The findings show that B. glabra leaves in the industrial zone in general contained higher levels of phenolics, flavonoids, and metals than those in residential zones, with increased particulate matter (PM) and metals present in the air and soil of the industrial zone compared to the residential zone
Summary
Air- and water-borne pollution is an undesirable consequence of industrialization that is having a growing impact on productivity, health, and climate change [1,2,3,4,5]. Pollution affects plants and animals via a number of routes including through pollutants dissolved in the rain (e.g., sulfur dioxide producing sulfuric acid), chemical discharge into water courses, and particulate matter (PM) in the air including dust, dirt, and smoke. Anthropogenic pollution is extending to every corner of the ecosystem and planet, including plants. Monitoring and assessing pollution in plants and in the air, water, and soil from industrial sources may be an important way to detect and manage the impact of industry and pollution on our environment [4]
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