TITLE:
Determination of Air Pollutant Concentrations in Plant Species in Relation to Pollution Sources
AUTHORS:
Lawson Tevi Atator, Hodabalo Kamou, Anissou Bawa, Kodjovi Mawuégnigan Léonard Agbodan, Akpisso Aniko Polo, Sêmihinva Ben Akpavi, Koffi Akpagana
KEYWORDS:
Air Pollution, Anthropogenic Pollution Sources, Bio-Sensitive Species, City of Lomé, Togo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Air Pollution,
Vol.10 No.3,
September
30,
2021
ABSTRACT: 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.