Author(s)

Abeer Mahfoud¹, Kamel Khalil¹, Chahid Moustapha²

¹Department of Environmental Prevention, Higher Institute of Environmental Research, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.
²Chemistry Department, Science Faculty, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

The aim of this study was to estimate the total amount of phenolic compounds of olive trees leaves (Olea europaea L.) as a biomarker for the assessment of heavy metals (HMs) air pollution (Pb, Cu and Mn) in Baniyas area. Olive trees were selected as the predominant species in the study area. Samples were collected from 6 locations at different distances from the vicinity of Baniyas refinery (0.1, 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 10) Km. The control was taken from an area about 20 km from the refinery to the north-east (Al-Qardaha rural). The concentration of total phenolic compounds (TPC) during the summer was (45.6 - 70.85) mg GAE/g dw, and during winter (35.6 - 52.9) mg GAE/g dw. The concentrations of the studied HMs (Pb, Cu and Mn) in unwashed leaves during summer were (0.879 - 2.170) ppm, (0.75 - 5.21) ppm and (54.38 - 8.78) ppm respectively, whilst during the winter concentrations were (0.479 - 1.023) ppm, (1.54 - 7.29) ppm and (53.79 - 7.58) ppm respectively. The results showed significant differences in the concentration of total phenolic compounds and HMs (Pb, Cu and Mn) between sites (ANOVA), significant differences in concentrations of both total phenols and HMs (Pb and Cu) between summer and winter at all sites (t-test, p < 0.05). TPC, Pb and Mn were higher in summer in all sites than in winter. Levels of Cu were significantly higher in winter than in summer at all sites (t-test, p < 0.05). The results showed a negative correlation (t-test, p < 0.05) between the concentration of total phenolic compounds and both Pb and Mn with the distance from the refinery of Baniyas. Consequently, the result of this study enhanced the usefulness of using of TPC in olive leaves as biomarker of air pollution.

Biomonitoring, Total Phenolic Compounds, Biomarker, Heavy Metals, Olive Leaves, Baniyas Oil Refinery

Mahfoud, A. , Khalil, K. and Moustapha, C. (2018) An Assessment Study of Usefulness of Using Olive (Olea europaea L.) Leaves in Biomonitoring the Air Pollution near Baniyas Oil Refinery, Syria: Estimating of Total Phenolic Compounds and Lead, Copper and Manganese in Olive Leaves. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 9, 2514-2531. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2018.912182.