Recognition of Trace Element Contamination Using Ficus macrophylla Leaves in Urban Environment

Abstract

Urban areas are characterized by numerous pollutants emitted by anthropic sources both in the form of solid and gaseous particulates. Biomonitoring is an easy, economical, and accessible approach for the determination of atmospheric pollutants. In this study, we used the leaves of Ficus macrophylla Desf. ex Pers., collected in the city of Palermo (Italy), to determine major and trace elements. Geogenic elements exhibited the highest concentrations, making up 99% of the weight of the analyzed elements (Ca, K, Mg, P, S, Na, Fe, and Al); they range 21,400 (Ca) to 122 µg g−1 (Al). The remaining elements showed median concentrations in the range 47.5–0.05 µg g−1 in the following order of abundance: Sr > Cu > Mn > Zn > Br > Rb > Ba > Pb > Cr > Sb > As > Mo = Sc. Cluster analysis, with Spearman’s coefficient to measure sample similarity, identified five main groups, namely, three clusters related to the geogenic background and marine spray; one cluster linked to elements essential to plants, and a final group attributed to the influence of traffic emissions. Calculated enrichment factors (EF) showed that the enrichments found for P and K were linked to plant metabolism; Na and Mg confirmed the role of sea spray; Cu and Zn underlined the contribution linked to anthropic processes and the role of micronutrients in plants.. As, Cr, and Mo had EF values ranging from 10 and 20, and Sb had EF > 90. From geochemical distribution maps of As, Cr, Mo, and Sb it was observed that metal and metalloid concentrations were higher in urban areas and immediately decreased as one moved away from these areas. Local pollution sources play a great role in trace element concentrations in airborne particulate matter. The present study confirms that Ficus macrophylla leaves are suitable for screening an urban environment to identify concentrations of inorganic chemicals, since they have high tolerance to pollution.

"Comparative Study on Bioaccumulation of Lead (Pb) in Some Birds and Plant Species in Rapidly Degrading Mining Sites in Three Selected Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria"

“…The lack of variation in Pb concentration between the four plant species may possibly be due to their stationary nature or form, which makes them easily exposed and vulnerable to the equal amount of Pb dust being released into the atmosphere from mining sites. On average, Ficus plants had a very high Pb concentration, which agrees with Alaimo [60], who confirmed that Ficus macrophylla leaves are suitable for screening an urban environment to identify concentrations of inorganic chemicals due to their high tolerance to pollution. On the contrary, previous studies by Ombugadu, et al [23] showed that Mangifera indica accumulated Pb the most, while Ficus platyphylla had the least amount of Pb.…”

Ficus retusa L. as possible indicator of air metallic pollution in urban environmentSahli Leila, Belhiouani Hadjer

“…pallasiana (Lamb) Holmboe, sampled at various distances from the Tuncbilek Thermal Power Plant (Kütahya Province, Turkey). They were lower than those recorded by Alaimo and Varrica (2020) for unwashed leaves of Ficus macrophylla collected in the city of Palermo (Italy); concentrations ranged between 16 and 99 µg/g, and than those reported by Fazrul and Huda (2018) for the leaves of Athyrium esculentum (18.5 ± 1.83 µg/g), Chromolaena odorata (23.35 ± 2.89 µg/g), and Lantana camara (26.85 ± 0.77 µg/g) taken from a roadside in the Jengka sub-urban area in Pahang, Malaysia. Nevertheless, concentrations recorded for washed and unwashed leaves of F. retusa were largely higher than those reported by Alahabadi et al (2017) for unwashed leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia (4.45 ± 1.83 µg/g), Pinus eldarica (3.08 ± 1.35 µg/g), Olea europaea (3.56 ± 1.68 µg/g), and Cupressus arizonica (3.23 ± 1.23 µg/g) sampled in the urban area of Yazd in Iran.…”

“…xed at (100 µg/g) by Allen et al (1974), and Yilmaz and Zengin (2004). Comparison of zinc concentrations in the study area and those recorded in cities around the world, showed that our results were extremely higher than those recorded by Alaimo and Varrica (2020) for unwashed leaves of F. macrophylla collected in the urban area of Palermo (Italy); concentrations ranged from 14.5 to 31 µg/g, and those reported by Alahabadi et al (2017) for unwashed leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia (27.2 ± 14.29 µg/g), Pinus eldarica (33.25 ± 7.45 µg/g), Olea europaea (27.23 ± 14.42 µg/g), and Cupressus arizonica (26.1 ± 6.08 µg/g) sampled in the urban area of Yazd in Iran. They were in the range of those recorded by Abou El Saadat et al ( 2011) for leaves of F. retusa sampled in a sub-urban (40.03 µg/g), urban (67.39 µg/g) and industrial areas (76.31 µg/g).…”

Influence of Saharan Dust on the Composition of Urban Aerosols in Palermo City (Italy)

“…Desert dust is capable of traveling long distances in the atmosphere [12]. In addition to affecting air quality, desert dust also has broader impacts on climate and biogeochemistry [13][14][15]. As mentioned, North Africa alone contributes significantly to global dust emissions (55%).…”