Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Toxicology | Volume 2 Issue 2 | Pages: 20-26 | Doi : 10.37446/jet/rsa/2.2.2024.20-26

Research Article

OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 31-Dec-2024

The use of the inflorescence of Sprangletop (Leptochloa fusca L.) as a potential bioindicator of air pollution

• Edogbanya Paul Ramallan Ocholi
• Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008 Anyigba, Nigeria.

Bello Christiana Ojochogwu
• Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Kogi State University, P.M.B 1008 Anyigba, Nigeria.

Victor Ugbede Opkanachi
• Department of Environmental Health Science, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.

Abstract

This research was carried out to evaluate the use of the inflorescence of Leptochloa fusca as a potential bio-indicator of air pollution. The presence and concentrations of heavy metals, specifically Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Uranium (U), and Zinc (Zn) in the inflorescence of Leptochloa fusca collected from two locations (high and low traffic) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). From the analysis, the concentration of heavy metals in the samples collected from high traffic roadside in their decreasing order are Zn (10.72 mg/kg), Ni (6.19 mg/kg), Cu (4.62 mg/kg), Mn (2.72 mg/kg), Ba (2.02 mg/kg), Cd (0.14 mg/kg), Cr (0.12 mg/kg), Pb (0.08 mg/kg), Hg (0.03 mg/kg), and U (0.02 mg/kg). The concentration of heavy metals in the samples collected from low traffic roadsides in their descending order are Zn (6.32 mg/kg), Mn (1.23 mg/kg), Ni (1.19 mg/kg), Cu (1.13 mg/kg), Ba (0.19 mg/kg), Cd (0.02 mg/kg), Pb (0.01 mg/kg), Hg (0.00 mg/kg), Cr (0.00 mg/kg), and U (0.00 mg/kg). The concentration of the heavy metals in the inflorescence of L. fusca collected from high traffic locations was significantly higher than the samples collected from low traffic locations. From the study, it was concluded that high traffic roadsides are more prone to air pollution by vehicle exhaust and that the inflorescence of L. fusca is a potential bioindicator of air pollution. It is therefore recommended that proper monitoring and assessment of heavy metal pollutants should be carried out regularly to provide a better idea of the levels of pollution exposure at the roadside which can be absorbed by plants, humans, and other living organisms.

Keywords

Leptochloa fusca, bio-indicator, heavy metals, automobile exhaust, air pollution

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