Monitoring Arsenic Concentrations in Airborne Particulates of Selected Landscape Plants and Their Potential for Pollution Mitigation

Abstract

Among the most dangerous pollutants in terms of environment and living health are heavy metals, the concentrations of which have been continuously increasing within nature due to anthropogenic effects in recent years. Arsenic (As), one of the most harmful heavy metals, is extremely dangerous to living beings even at low concentrations. Therefore, observing the change of As pollution in the airborne and reducing pollution are priority research topics. In this study, the usability of some landscape plants for observing and decreasing the alteration of As pollution in the airborne was evaluated. Within the scope of the study, changes in As concentration in five landscape plants growing in D & uuml;zce, one of the most polluted cities in Europe as stated by the World Air Pollution Report, were examined in terms of species, organs, directions, and age range over the last 60 years. As a conclusion of the study, As concentration in samples taken from Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia tomentosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii remained below detectable limits. It was concluded that Cedrus atlantica and Robinia pseudoacacia are not suitable biomonitors for monitoring the change in As pollution, but they can be used effectively to reduce As pollution since they can accumulate very high levels of As.