Journal of Environmental Biology

Pollution tolerance and distribution pattern of plants in surrounding area of coal-fired industries

A. K. Dwivedi*¹ and B. D. Tripathi²

¹Department of Botany, Pollution and Environmental Assay Research Laboratory (Pearl)

D.D.U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur-273 009, India

²Pollution Ecology Research Laboratory, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany,

Banaras Hindu University,  Varanasi-221 005, India

(Received: January 01, 2005 ; Revised received: May 04, 2005 ; Re-revised received: July 15, 2006 ; Accepted: August 12, 2006)

Abstract: Higher concentration of SO₂ and particulate matters was reported in surrounding areas of coal-fired industries which influences the distribution pattern of plants. Sensitive plant species are abolished from such areas, however, only pollution tolerant species survive under stress conditions. The present study was designed to investigate the vegetation composition around coal-fired industries i.e. brick industries. To categorise plants as sensitive or resistant air pollution tolerance index (APTI) value was calculated. Out of 99 plants studied, Ricinus communis with APTI 81.10 was found to be the most resistant wild plant showing uniform distribution at all the polluted sites. On the other hand, Lepidium sativum with APTI 5.27 was recorded as the most sensitive plant and found to be present only at the less polluted sites.

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