Author(s)

Lawson Tevi Atator^1*, Hodabalo Kamou¹, Anissou Bawa², Kodjovi Mawuégnigan Léonard Agbodan¹, Akpisso Aniko Polo¹, Sêmihinva Ben Akpavi¹, Koffi Akpagana¹

¹Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology, University of Lome, Lomé, Togo.
²Higher Institute of Agricultural Trades, University of Kara, Kara, Togo.

Air quality has been a major health issue in urban areas in recent decades. Human activities release a large number of pollutants into the atmosphere which has a direct impact on plant health and leads to ecosystem degradation. The objective of this study is to contribute to a better evaluation of the impact of the air quality of the city of Togo on biological resources. The determination of pollutants was done on samples of plant species with a strong link with the source of pollution. The determination of Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) was done by the ripper method. The determination of carbon and estimation of CO₂ and CO by the colorimetric method. The determination of nitrogen was done by the Kjeldhal method. The results showed that at the industrial level the amount of CO₂ in Alternanthera repens is high with a value of 53.3911 mg/ml. On the other hand, the quantity of CO in Senna occidentalis is 44.3619 mg/ml. In Pithecellobium dulce, the quantity of SO₂ and NO₂ are evaluated respectively to 0.1588 mg/ml and 0.3696 mg/ml. Regarding to the dumps, the quantity of CO₂ in Newbouldia laevis is very high with a value of 65.8508 mg/ml. On the other hand the amount of CO in Senna occidentalis is 51.6106 mg/ml. The quantity of SO₂ in Newbouldia laevis is 0.2101 mg/ml and NO₂ in Ocimum canum is 0.2744 mg/ml. At the level of roads, the quantities of CO₂ and CO in Eragrostis tenella are very high with values respectively equal to 74.4092 mg/ml and 62.2654 mg/ml. On the other hand, the amount of NO₂ in Amaranthus sp is 0.2304 mg/ml and that of SO₂ in Eragrostis Tenella is 0.1691 mg/ml. The use of a plant bioindicator sensitive to pollutants, allowed concluding that the air of the city of Lome is polluted. The concentration of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide is much more evident in return when the health of plant species is threatened.

Air Pollution, Anthropogenic Pollution Sources, Bio-Sensitive Species, City of Lomé, Togo

Atator, L. , Kamou, H. , Bawa, A. , Agbodan, K. , Polo, A. , Akpavi, S. and Akpagana, K. (2021) Determination of Air Pollutant Concentrations in Plant Species in Relation to Pollution Sources. Open Journal of Air Pollution, 10, 53-62. doi: 10.4236/ojap.2021.103004.