ABSTRACT
Effects of heavy metals on the Air Pollution Tolerance Indices (APTI) of five medicinal plants growing within quarry site in Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria were studied. Following laboratory analysis of the leaves of the plants for metal load and four biochemical parameters of APTI computation. The metal load was determined by the Atomic Absorption spectrophotometric method, while the ascorbic acid was determined by the titremetric method, leaf extract pH by the electro-chemical techniques, relative water content by plant turgidity mass and the total chlorophyll, by spectrophotometric method. Foliar photomicrography of the leaf was also studied. Results of Plants from experimental site showed changes in physical and internal structures of the leaves that lead to closure of some stomata pores in test plants and damage of some epicelluler cells. Quantification of phytochemical contents of the test plants showed higher values than that of control which may be due to the multiplication of some organic substances caused by oxidative stress, presence of inorganic subtances like heavy metals and lime stone dust.The result of elemental analysis of both experimental and control plants gave the range of concentration of the metals in parts per million (ppm) as follows: - lead ( 2.75 – 14.13 ± 0.02); Nickle (0.27 - 0.54 ± 0.01) ; Cadmium ( 2.25 - 24.30 ± 0.03); Zinc (0.11- 0.03 ± 0.02); and Arsenic (0.10 - 0.70 ± 0.04). Control –Lead ( 0.00 – 5.52 ± 0.01); Nickle (0.13 – 0.23 ± 0.01); Cadmium (0.00 - 12.00 ± 0.03); Zinc ( 0.06 – 0.10 ± 0.03); and Arsenic (0.02 – 0.20 ± 0.02).
NGOZI, U (2021). Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-1
NGOZI, UGWU "Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria." Afribary. Afribary, 12 May. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-1. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
NGOZI, UGWU . "Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.". Afribary, Afribary, 12 May. 2021. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-1 >.
NGOZI, UGWU . "Effects Of Heavy Metals On The Air Pollution Tolerance Indices ( Apti ) Of Five Medicinal Plants Growing Within Quarry Site In Ishi-Agu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria." Afribary (2021). Accessed April 25, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/effects-of-heavy-metals-on-the-air-pollution-tolerance-indices-apti-of-five-medicinal-plants-growing-within-quarry-site-in-ishi-agu-ebonyi-state-nigeria-1