Evaluation of Pollution Intensity in Different Districts of Tehran Based on Measuring Chlorophyll, Plumb and Cadmium Heavy Metal Contents in Trees

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Technology of natural sustainable ecosystem research group, Karaj, Iran

2 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

4 Faculty of Forest science and ecology, University of Gottingen, Germany

Abstract

Plane and Mulberry trees play a crucial role in purifying the polluted air in Tehran as a major
city. In this research, 13 main districts of Tehran city were chosen as study area. 20 completely healthy Plane
and Mulberry species were selected in similar ecological conditions and age range. The uptake of Cd and Pb
was determined using Spectrophotometry, whereas the Chlorophyll content was measured applying ICP
method. The statistical results of Chlorophyll data put the Mulberry and Plane trees of the studied district
into 9 classes (Dunkan statistical test). The statistical results put the studied districts in terms of amount of
Pb uptake in 3 classes for Plane trees and in 5 classes for Mulberry trees. The districts were classified in 5
classes for plane trees and in 4 classes for Mulberry trees in terms of amount of Cd uptake. In general, the
uptake content of Cd and Pb is higher in Plane trees in comparison with Mulberry ones. In other words, Plane
trees are more sensitive to the uptake of contaminants than Mulberry trees. Finally, GIS maps were designed
showing the average uptake of contaminates in each district.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 8, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
October 2014
Pages 1105-1114

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