AIR POLLUTION – MONITORING MODELLING AND HEALTH

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Air Pollution – Monitoring, Modelling and Health
*: Significant correlation at 5%
**: Significant correlation at 1%
NS: No significant correlation
Fig. 2. Correlation: ratio FM/DM – trace metals (Pb, Zn, Cu) contents.
In the case of cypress leaves, concentrations of lead and zinc recorded in the city were
moderately low compared with plane tree leaves (average values for all sites, respectively:
0.17±0013 and 0.93±0.20 µg/g compared to the control site in the order of 0.10±0.005 and
0.4±0.00 µg/g). This significant difference in concentrations of metals accumulated in plane
and cypress trees is partly due to the leaf surfaces collector of particles (mainly in the
epicuticular waxes) on a hand and to the difference between particles of lead and zinc on the
other hand. Garrec et al. (2002) showed that gaseous and particular pollutants accumulated
mainly on leaf surfaces following the highly lipophilic properties of cuticular waxes, with
the key a bit of disturbing effects on plants.
Note that high concentrations for the three metals measured were noted in sites S1 and S2,
the characteristics of mountain areas affected by a relatively steep slope and very important