BIO-MONITORING OF HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN PLANTS GROWING AT KANCHIPURAM TOWN, TAMILNADUR. SUMATHI AND G. SRIRAMAbstract Environmental monitoring is a great concern that leads to explore the plants as bio identity tool for pollutants. They act as the excellent indicators of showing the environmental air conditions. Therefore, three common tree species such as Szygium Cumini (species 1), Ficus Religiosa (species 2) and Pongamia glabra (species 3), were selected for the accumulation of heavy metal pollutants from the ambiance air for this study. This work aimed to investigate the concentration of heavy metals deposited on the leaves of selected tree species at various places in Kanchipuram town. The selected sites showing the different level of pollutants depends on the areas subjected to the disturbance like highly, moderately and slightly polluted areas. Leaves from each species were collected and analyzed for heavy metals such as Fe, Pb, Cu, Zn, Al, Cd, As, Cr and Mn in the laboratory by using Inductive coupled Plasma mass spectrometry. The results gathered from the experiment were statistically analyzed by using SPSS software and correlation study also carried out for the pollutant parameters. The pollutant level with species and with sites varied as predicted. The concentration of Fe and Al were high and almost deposited on all species and found in all sites. Zn and Mn were in lower concentration and other metals were found below their detectable limit. The heavy metal concentration was arranged in the order of Fe>Al Zn Mn and other metals such as Pb, Cu, Cd, As and Cr were not identified. The species selected acted as active bio monitors for the environment. |