Environmental

Communication

Biosci. Biotech. Res. Comm. 10(4): 764-774 (2017)

Role of certain tree species in absorption of air

pollutants caused by heavy metals – Copper, Zinc and

Uranium in Tehran

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida

and Ronassi Ali Arash

Ph.D. student Belarusian National Technical University, Minsk, Belarus

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT

As environmental pollution to heavy metals is being increased every year, occurrence of serious risks to health of human, animals

and plants can be expected. Heavy metals with all of their destructive effects are the main pollutants in the air of big cities. Hence,

this study has been conducted with the objective of analysis of role of tree species in absorption of air pollution caused by copper

(Cu), zinc (Zn) and (U) uranium in Tehran. According to the climate of studied stations, especially wind velocity and direction, the

sampling operation was taken at the end of March and December. The number of samples was also determined based on number

of tree species studied (Pinus eldarica , Cupressus arizonica,Platanus orientails), organs of tree species (leaves), number of stations

(Mehrabad Airport, Damavand and Chitgar Park) and sampling time scopes (March and December). Sampling was done in frame of

statistical plan of completely random block in 3 iterations and the data analysis was done using analysis of variance and using SAS

software. The results obtained from this study show that the absorption of cooper, zinc and uranium metals in the leaves of studied

trees in polluted stations is more than control station. According to obtained results, uranium concentration in the leaves of studied

species increased respectively in Pinus eldarica Medw, Cupressus arizonica Greene and Platanus orientails. The leaves of Pinus eldar-

ica Medwin Mehrabad Airport station have shown highest absorption of this metal. Moreover, obtained results show that the cooper

absorbed by leaves of studied species is increased respectively in Pinus eldarica Medw, Cupressus arizonica Greene and Platanus

orientails. In terms of the effect of station on absorption of cooper, the species in the Mehrabad station have shown high absorption

of this metal. The concentration of absorbed zinc in leaves of studied species is also increased respectively in Pinus eldarica Medw,

Cupressus arizonica Greene and Platanus orientails and the zinc absorbed by species of Mehrabad station has shown the highest level.

It is concluded that the absorption level of Cu, Zn and U in leaves of studied trees in polluted stations has been higher than control

stations and Pinus eldarica Medw can be used as an index of absorption of heavy metals such as Cu, Zn and U.

KEY WORDS: TREE SPECIES, HEAVY METALS, COPPER, ZINC, URANIUM

764

ARTICLE INFORMATION:

*Corresponding Author:

Received 18

Oct, 2017

Accepted after revision 12

Dec, 2017

BBRC Print ISSN: 0974-6455

Online ISSN: 2321-4007 CODEN: USA BBRCBA

Thomson Reuters ISI ESC and Crossref Indexed Journal

NAAS Journal Score 2017: 4.31 Cosmos IF: 4.006

reserved.

Online Contents Available at:

http//www.bbrc.in/

DOI: 10.21786/bbrc/10.4/23

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

INTRODUCTION

As environmental pollution to heavy metals is being

increased every year and can ultimately lead to seri-

ous risks to health of human, animals and plants, heavy

metals with all of their destructive effects can be the

main pollutants in the air of big cities. Therefore, one

of the most fundamental issues gaining attention of sci-

entists to heavy metals is lack of metabolism of these

metals in the body. According to increasing population

and the industrialization phenomenon of societies, more

and more use of fossil fuels, especially oil products to

produce electricity, transport systems and industrial

and house uses, has led to occurrence of environmental

problems because of production of hydrocarbons, pol-

luted gases and heavy metals (Naderi et al, 2012, Zhou

et al., 2017, Suvarapu and Baek, 2017).

As a result of rapid industrial growth over the dec-

ades, soil pollution to heavy metals has been increased.

Although heavy metals can be existed in soil naturally,

high percentages of these metals could be the outcome

of human activities such as use of chemicals,organic

modi ers, animal fertilizers, mineral processing, sew-

age sludge and waste from the iron and steel industry,

mines, road transport and so on .Vehicles can be one of

the main sources of producing heavy metals at the cit-

ies, which can cause pollution of soil around the roads

by production of pollutants and making them enter to

the environment and into the air. According to various

studies conducted in  eld of heavy elements, the metals

such as cooper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) have shown

high importance because of long half lifetime in body

of human and other animals and because of being toxic

(Suvarapu and Baek, 2017, Qiutong & Mingkui, 2017

and Sistani et al, 2017, Xu et al., 2017).

In  eld of role of tree species in adsorption of air

pollution caused by heavy metals, various studies have

been conducted. Cheraghi et al (2012) have conducted a

study under the title of “analysis of heavy metals in bed,

leaves and stem of Avicennia marina in Khuzestan” and

have determined concentration of heavy metals such as

Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd in sediments of Imam Khomeini Port

Zone and Avicennia Marina and analysis of mobility

of these metals based on enrichment percentage. 9 sta-

tions were selected in theMangrove stations and some

samples of leaves and stem of Mangrove were collected,

along with sediments of the zone. The results showed

that concentration of metals in step of plants was more

than leaves. Moreover, there was signi cant correlation

between concentration of metals in stem and sediments

(Cheraghi et al, 2012).

Maddah et al (2013) measured the amount of sedi-

ment in extracts resulted from stem, shoot and leaves

and soil of  owerpots at the end of Nov using ICP

device. The results showed that P.Sylvetris specie is the

suitable specie forphytoremediation of lead. In the con-

centration of 800ppm, the contamination of Pb in stem

and shoots is more than leaves; although in concentra-

tion of 1600ppm, the highest accumulation of lead is in

stem and leaves. Comparing different horizons of soil

showed that Pb has been mainly contaminated in sur-

face horizon (Maddah et al, 2013).

Kardar et al (2015) has studied cadmium adsorption in

organs of Fraxinus excelsior and Cupressus arizonica in

Isfahan. To this end, some samples of leaves and surface

steps of trees were prepared linearly and randomly in 3

iterations in late spring and summer and the cadmium

concentration in them was measured using atom adsorp-

tion device. The results show that cadmium absorption

level in areal organs of Cupressus arizonica happens

more than Fraxinus excelsior and cadmium absorption

in leaves of studied species is more than stem. Moreo-

ver, cadmium absorption in different organs of species

in polluted station was more than other stations and the

highest level of cadmium absorption was observed in

September and the lowest level was observed in June

(Kardar et al, 2015).

Kord et al (2011) has conducted a study under the

title of re nement of soil polluted to Zn by means of

tree species of Pinus Eldarica Medw, Cupressus arizon-

ica Greene, Robinia peseudoacacia,Fraxinus rotundifolia

Mill andUlmus carpinifolia var umbraculifera Rehd in

Tehran. For this purpose, in summer in polluted stations

(Azadi, Bahman and Bazar) and control station (Agh-

dasieh), a transect was selected due to wind direction

and sampling was done in 3 iterations from leaves and

surface stems of trees in frame of absolutely random

statistical plan and the Pb concentration in each sample

was measured using atom absorption device model Var-

ian220. The results showed that Pinus eldarica Medw,

Cupressus arizonica Greene and Robinia peseudoacacia

species have shown respectively highest Pb concentra-

tion in aerial organs (14.39ppm, 11.91ppm and 9.72ppm)

and highest coef cient of Pbtransfer from the under-

ground to the limb (respectively 3.49, 2.99 and 2.82).

Accordingly and due to adequate coping conditions, the

3 species have been used to re ne Pb-contaminated soil

in similar zones (Kord et al, 2011).

Afshari et al studied heavy metal pollution using pol-

lution factor in soil of lands with various uses in cen-

tral zone of Zanjan Province. To evaluate 241 samples

of surface soil based on systematic approach, nesting

was done in depth of 0-10c of agricultural, farming and

urban uses. The results showed that 1time more of the

pollutant is in  eld soil and 0.4, 5.0 and 2.0 and 1 of

total Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu in samples soils and respectively

the overall concentration of Fe, Mg, Co and Ni is lower

than  eld concentration of these metals. High amounts

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS 765

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

of pollution factor of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu was observed

in urban uses and the pollution factor of Fe, Mg, Cr, Co

and Ni was observed in agricultural and farming uses.

Finally, the results showed that the metals in  rst group

are mostly under the effect of human activities and the

metals in second group are mostly affected by mother

materials in the zone.

Shabanian and Chanor (2013) studied thebiodegrada-

bility of wooden species used in urban foresting of San-

andaj. Contamination of some heavy metals such as Pb,

Zn, Cd and Mg was measured in leaves ofOriental plain,

elm, asparagus, Croissant and black pine in Sanandaj’s

City Center (as polluted zone) and the area of Kurdis-

tan University (as control zone). The results showed that

contamination of Pb, Zn and Cd in leaves of majority of

species in polluted zone was signi cantly higher than

control zone at the level of 95%. In the polluted zone,

the highest contamination of Pb and Cd was observed

inCroissant, most Zn contamination was observed in

asparagus and the most Mg contamination was observed

in elm, (Shabanian and Chanor 2013).

Sistani et al (2017) conducted a cross-sectional and

descriptive-analytical research under the title of “heavy

metals contamination in adjacent soil of Kerman Steel

Industry: evaluation of metal enrichment and degree

of pollution”. In this study, they found that the most

concentration has been belonged to steel and concen-

tration of other metals such as Pb, Cd has been signif-

icantly under the effect of steel complexes and some

plans should be made for the surrounding area to reduce

emission of pollutants. Therefore, this study has been

conducted to investigate the amount of heavy metal

absorption in some tree species in Tehran.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

In this study, to measure the amount of heavy metal

absorption in some tree species in Tehran, urban areas

such as parks, boulevards, streets and highways and

industrial districts used various tree species are selected

as stations and research station. Then, during certain

time intervals, through sampling leaves, stems and

shoots of species, the contamination of each organ was

determined. Accordingly, species with highest level

of heavy metal absorption and with higher resistance

against these metals were detected and were used in the

zones polluted to these metals.

As the status of pollution caused by studied heavy

metals is not same in whole city, sampling operation

should be taken in form of an index of pollution sta-

tus, so that it can consider minimum and maximum

and average levels of pollution. To this end and due to

reports of air pollution by Environmental Protection

Agency and Transport and Traf c Agency of Tehran,

Mehrabad Airport station was selected as station with

high air pollution; Damavand Station was selected as

station with low pollution. Chitgar station was selected

as control station due to low pollution to be the basis for

comparison with other polluted stations.

After determining the polluted and control stations,

the studied species were identi ed and selected in each

station. The desired species were selected based on

majority in Tehran and dominance in all studied area

from Evergreen and Easter species andBroad leaf and

needle leaf species. The tree species existed in all studied

stations in common were detected and board leaf Pla-

tanus orientails and needle leaf Pinus Eldarica Medw

andCupressus arizonica Greene were selected to take

required comparisons to determine heavy metal absorp-

tion level among different organs like leaves.

Sampling was done on leaves of trees in such way

that leaf samples were carefully separated from petiole

location. Moreover, according to position of the leaves

on the crown of tree, an arrangement was taken to select

leaves from whole crown of tree. Number of samples

was also determined due to number of studied tree spe-

cies (Pinus Eldarica Medw, Cupressus arizonica Greene,

Platanus orientails), organs of tree species (leave), num-

ber of stations (Mehrabad Airport, Damavand and Chit-

gar Park) and sampling time scopes (March and Decem-

ber) and iteration of examinations (3 iterations). Hence,

according to the climate of studied stations, especially

wind speed and direction, sampling was done in late

March and late December.

In this study, the effect of various factors such as tree

species, research stations, and time intervals of sampling

and concentration of heavy metals in leaves of trees was

studied. In frame of absolutely random block plan and

in 3 iterations, sampling was done and the data analy-

sis was done using analysis of variance and using SAS

software. Drawing diagrams and graphs was also done

using Excel software.

RESULTS

The results obtained from analysis of variance of mean

square in leaves of tree species for 3 elements of Cu, Zn

and U in time scope of March and December in 3 studied

zones are presented in table 1.

According to table 1, the results obtained from analy-

sis of variance in March showed that the effect of specie

is signi cant for all studied properties at the probability

level of 1% and the results have been insigni cant for

Cu concentration in leaf. Moreover, the results obtained

from analysis of variance in December showed that the

effect of specie for all studied properties is signi cant at

the probability level of 1% and the results obtained from

766 ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS 767

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

Table 1. analysis of variance of studied properties (March and December)

Sources of

variations

Degrees of

freedom

Mean Square

March December March December March December

Leaf Cu Leaf Cu Leaf Zn Leaf Zn Leaf U Leaf U

Specie 2 **35.65 **1.45 **1.23 **1.47 **0.98 **0.85

Station 2 **43.55 **1.64 **1.32 **10.21 **0.21 **032/

Specie×Station 3 **2.36 **0.08 **0.12 **0.09 *0.12 **0.9

Error 30 0.35 0.09 0.05 0.01 0.18 0.15

Coef cient of variation (%) 10.38 15.35 8.11 15.11 0.17 0.75

FIGURE 1. The effect of station on Zn concentration (ppm) in leaves of studied trees (March)

uranium concentration in leaf and Cu contamination in

leaf are not signi cant.

According to  gure 1, the results of mean compar-

isons showed that the mutual effect of station on Zn

concentration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at

the level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results

of multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that

the highest Zn concentration in Pinus eldarica Medw

leaf was at Mehrabad Airport station (1.07ppm) and the

lowest concentration was at Chitgar station in Platanus

orientails (1.00ppm).

According to  gure 2, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of station on Cu con-

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of

multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that the

highest Cu concentration in Pinus eldarica Medw leaf

belonged to Mehrabad Airport station being 2.04 ppm

and the lowest concentration belonged to Chitgar sta-

tion inPlatanus orientails which was 1.63 ppm.

According to  gure 3, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of station on U con-

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of

multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that the

highest U concentration in Pinus Eldarica Medw leaf

was at Mehrabad Airport station being 0.99 ppm and

the lowest concentration at Chitgar station in Platanus

orientails was 1.00ppm.

According to  gure 4, the results of mean compar-

isons showed that the mutual effect of station on Zn

concentration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at

the level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results

of multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that

the highest Zn concentration in Pinus Eldarica Medw

leaf was at Mehrabad Airport station (3.36 ppm) and

768 ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

FIGURE 2. Cu concentrations (ppm) in leaves of studied trees (March) from various stations

FIGURE 3. The effect of station on U concentration in leaves of studied trees (March)

the lowest concentration at Chitgar station in Platanus

orientails was 1.18 ppm.

According to  gure 5, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of station on Cu con-

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of

multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that the

highest Cu concentration in Pinus Eldarica Medw leaf

belonged to Mehrabad Airport station being 2.74 ppm

and the lowest concentration was at Chitgar station in

leaves of Cupressus arizonica Greene being 1.85 ppm.

According to  gure 6, the results of mean comparisons

showed that the mutual effect of station on U concentra-

tion in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the level of

95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of multiple

comparisons using Duncan test showed that the highest

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS 769

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

FIGURE 4. The effect of station on Zn concentration in leaves of studied trees (December)

FIGURE 5. The effect of station on Cu concentration in leaves of studied trees (December)

U concentration in Pinus Eldarica Medw leaf belonged to

Mehrabad Airport station being 0.99 ppm and the low-

est concentration belonged to Chitgar station in leaves of

Cupressus arizonica Greene which was 0.22 ppm.

According to  gure 7, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of specie on Zn con-

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of

multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that the

highest Zn concentration was in Pinus Eldarica Medw

leaf (1.61 ppm) and the lowest concentration was in

leaves of nlatanus orientails (1.29 ppm).

According to  gure 8, the results of mean compar-

isons showed that the mutual effect of species on Cu

770 ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

FIGURE 6. The effect of station on U concentration in leaves of studied trees (December)

FIGURE 7. The Zn concentration ppm in leaves of studied trees (March)

concentration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at

the level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results

of multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that

the highest Cu concentration was in the leaves of Pinus

eldarica Medw (2.61 ppm) and the lowest concentration

belonged to Platanus orientails which was 1.08 ppm.

According to  gure 3, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of specie on U con-

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results

of multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that

the highest U concentration belonged to Pinus Eldarica

Medw leaf to 0.91 ppm and the lowest concentration

belonged to Platanus orientails to 0.17 ppm.

According to  gure 10, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of specie on Zn con-

BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS 771

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

FIGURE 8. The Cu concentration ppm in leaves of studied trees (March)

FIGURE 9. The U concentration in leaves of studied trees (March)

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results

of multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that

the highest Zn concentration belonged to Pinus eldarica

Medw leaf to 2.47 ppm and the lowest concentration

was in Cupressus arizonica Greene (2.05 ppm).

According to  gure 11, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of specie on Cu con-

centration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the

level of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of

multiple comparisons using Duncan test showed that the

highest Cu concentration was in Pinus eldarica Medw

772 ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

FIGURE 10. The Zn concentration in leaves of studied trees (December)

FIGURE 11. The Cu concentration in leaves of studied trees (December)

(2.38 ppm) and the lowest concentration was in Cupres-

sus arizonica Greene being 1.97 ppm.

According to  gure 12, the results of mean compari-

sons showed that the mutual effect of specie on U concen-

tration in leaves of these trees was signi cant at the level

of 95% (p<0.05). On the other hand, the results of multiple

comparisons using Duncan test showed that the highest

Uranium concentration was in Pinus eldaricaleaves which

was 0.27 ppm and the lowest concentration of 0.11 ppm

was in the leaves of Cupressus arizonica.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study has been conducted with the aim of anal-

ysis of the role of three tree species in absorbing the

air pollution caused by Cu, Zn and Uranium in Tehran.

This study has been conducted in 3 stations including

Mehrabad Airport, Damavand and Chitgar stations. In

this study, it was found that absorption of heavy met-

als (Cu, Zn and Uranium) in leaves of studied trees in

polluted stations was more than control station and

it is increased respectively in Chitgar, Damavand and

Mehrabad stations. As the environment plays key role

in absorption of metals by plant species, it seems that

Mehrabad Airport has shown higher level of absorption

of the metal in leaves of tree species than other stations

due to high concentration of metals in the air. Heydari

et al (2005) have claimed that Pb absorption by plants

can be increased due to concentration of this metal in

the environment. Marry et al (1996) have also men-

tioned in their investigations that Pb absorption level by

plants is in signi cant correlation with concentration of

this metal in the environment.

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Cheraghi et al (2012) showed that concentration of

metals in stem of plants was more than leaves. Moreo-

ver, signi cant correlation was observed between con-

centration of metals in stem and the sediments. Maddah

et al (2013) found that forest pine is suitable specie for

PbPhytoremediation. In concentration of 800ppm, the

contamination of Pb is in highest level in stem and

shoots; although in concentration of 1600ppm, the Pb

contamination is mostly in stem and leaf.

The results obtained from the present study show that

the absorption of these metals in tree species studied

varies during different times and the process is increased

in December and March. As absorption of these elements

in plants is a physiologic phenomenon, absorption is

decreased in cold months of the year with reduction of

temperature and reduction of breathing. Poorfarhadi

(1994) and Shahmansuri (1995) studied role of different

seasons in absorption level of Pb in plants and found

that the most absorption of Pb is in summer.Organiza-

tion of Parks and Green Space of Tehran Municipality

(1994) has also reported most Pb contamination level in

plants in late September.

Kardar et al (2015) found that absorption of Cd in

different organs of plant species in polluted station

has been more than other stations and the highest cd

absorption level has been attributed to September and

the lowest level is observed in June. Shabanian and

Cheraghi (2013) showed that contamination of Zn, Pb

and Cd in leaves of majority of species in polluted zone

has been signi cantly higher than control zone at the

level of 95%. In polluted zone, the contamination of Pb

and Cd has been observed in cedar and Zn in elm and

Mg are also observed mostly inRobinia peseudoacacia.

In this study, in the studied treatments, absorption of

metals existed in needle leaf trees has been more than

broad leaf trees, so that its increasing process has been

observed respectively inPinus Eldarica Medw, Cupressus

arizonica Greene and Platanus orientails. It seems that

parameters such as being evergreen, more numbers of

leaves, high growth speed, the Cu contamination in soil

and ability of transfer from underground to aerial organs

can affect increased absorption of metals in needle leaf

plants. Lasat (2000) has found that growth speed of spe-

cies and the coef cient of Cu transfer from underground

to shoots could be the most important factor to increase

the element in shoots (leaf and branches). Safdari (2005)

has also mentioned that air pollutants can have more

effect on needle leaf plants because of being evergreen

and because of wider surface of leaf against the air ow.

Moreover, as one of the secondary results of this

study, it could be mentioned that through conducting

a  eld study in the zones with probability of emission

of radioactive mainly caused by heavy metals such as

surrounding areas of nuclear stations and the places for

disposal of radioactive materials, through planting tree

species with high absorption capability of heavy met-

als, especially radioactive metals such as U235, U238

and Pu239 found in nuclear wastes abundantly, a reli-

able method could be found in long-term to measure

the amount of emission of radioactive materials from

thenuclear disposal plant or reservoirs. Particularly, it

could be applied in positions or places, at which Geiger

Müller meters or other nuclear sensors can’t be applied

for any reason.

The results obtained from this study show that the

Cu absorbed by leaves of studied species is increased

FIGURE 12. The U concentration in leaves of studied trees (December)

774 ROLE OF CERTAIN TREE SPECIES IN ABSORPTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Mehdizadeh Mojdehi Aida and Ronassi Ali Arash

respectively in Pinus eldarica Medw, Cupressus ari-

zonica Greene and Platanus orientails. Also, the high-

est absorption level of this metal is observed in leaf of

Pinus Eldarica Medw. In terms of the effect of station in

absorption of Cu, the species in Mehrabad Airport sta-

tion have shown highest level of Cu contamination. The

Zn contamination is also increased in leaves of stud-

ied species includingPinus eldarica Medw, Cupressus

arizonica Greene and Platanus orientailsand the Pinus

eldarica Medwleaves have shown the highest contami-

nation of this metal. The effect of stations on this metal

has been also similar to two mentioned metals and has

shown highest concentration in species in Mehrabad

Station. In this study, it seems that due to the results

obtained, uranium concentration absorbed by studied

species is increased respectively in Pinus eldarica Medw,

Cupressus arizonica Greene and Platanus orientails.

The highest uranium contamination is also observed in

Pinus eldarica Medwleaves. As it was mentioned, the

concentration of uranium in studied species in polluted

stations is more than control station and the leaves of

Pinus eldarica Medwin Mehrabad Station have shown

highest contamination of this metal. Therefore, it could

be observed in this study that absorption of Cu, Zn and

U in studied trees in polluted zones has been higher than

control station and Pinus eldarica Medwcan be applied

as an indicator species for contamination of heavy met-

als such as Cu, Zn and Uranium.

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Afshari Ali, Khademi Hossein and Delavar Mohammad Amir

(2015). Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination Using Pol-

lution Factor in Soil Land with Different Uses in the Central

District of Zanjan Province. Journal of Water and Soil Science,

Vol. 25, No. 2.4, 2015, p. 41-52

Baek SO (2017).Determination of heavy metals in the ambient

atmosphere. Toxicol Ind Health. 2017 Jan;33(1):79-96.

Cheraghi, M., Dadalahi Sohraab, Saffahieh A., Ghanemi K. and

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