Influence of environmental pollution on leaf properties of urban plane trees, Platanus orientalis L

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2010 Sep;85(3):251-5. doi: 10.1007/s00128-010-0047-4. Epub 2010 Jun 25.

Abstract

To investigate whether leaves of plane trees (Platanus orientalis) are damaged by traffic pollution, trees from a megacity (Mashhad, Iran) and a rural area were investigated. Soil and air from the urban centre showed enrichment of several toxic elements, but only lead was enriched in leaves. Leaf size and stomata density were lower at the urban site. At the urban site leaf surfaces were heavily loaded by dust particles but the stomata were not occluded; the cuticle was thinner; other anatomical properties were unaffected suggesting that plane trees can cope with traffic exhaust in megacities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Ferns / cytology
  • Ferns / drug effects*
  • Ferns / metabolism
  • Particulate Matter / metabolism
  • Particulate Matter / toxicity
  • Plant Leaves / cytology
  • Plant Leaves / drug effects*
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Stomata / drug effects
  • Plant Stomata / physiology
  • Plant Stomata / ultrastructure
  • Trees / cytology
  • Trees / drug effects*
  • Trees / metabolism

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter