Ficus benjamina leaves as indicator of atmospheric pollution: a reconaissance study

We present a diagnostic study to evaluate the suitability of Ficus benjamina tree leaves as a captor of heavy metal particles from atmospheric dusts in urban areas. Leaf samples were taken at 16 localities within three areas in Morelia, state of Michoacán (Mexico’s medium size city, 830000 inhabitan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studia geophysica et geodaetica 2012-06, Vol.56 (3), p.879-887
Main Authors: Reyes, Bertha Aguilar, Ruiz, Rubén Cejudo, Martínez-Cruz, Juan, Bautista, Francisco, Goguitchaichvili, Avto, Carvallo, Claire, Morales, Juan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Atmospheric aerosols
Atmospheric Sciences
Dust
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environmental indicators
Ficus benjamina
Geophysics
Geophysics/Geodesy
Heavy metal content
Heavy metals
Leaves
Magnetic fields
Morelia
Particulates
Remanent magnetization
Structural Geology
Traffic
Trees
Urban areas
Urban atmospheric pollution
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Summary:We present a diagnostic study to evaluate the suitability of Ficus benjamina tree leaves as a captor of heavy metal particles from atmospheric dusts in urban areas. Leaf samples were taken at 16 localities within three areas in Morelia, state of Michoacán (Mexico’s medium size city, 830000 inhabitants). Measurements of magnetic susceptibility were conducted to determine the magnetic enhancement using samples from green, relatively unpolluted area, as a reference. The samples collected at areas with heavy traffic (main avenues) yielded values almost ten times higher than the values obtained for the unpolluted reference. Isothermal Remanent Magnetization curves are proportional to the degree of pollution. Associations of almost pure magnetite with heavy metals were revealed by scanning electron microscope.
ISSN:0039-3169
1573-1626
DOI:10.1007/s11200-011-0265-1