Pollution spoiling health of Bengaluru’s plants

By Vindhya Pabolu

Wonders of World Iguazu National Park

The semicircular waterfall at the heart of this site is some 80 m high and 2,700 m in diameter and is situated on a basaltic line spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil. Made up of many cascades producing vast sprays of water, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The surrounding subtropical rainforest has over 2,000 species of vascular plants and is home to the typical wildlife of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and Caymans. Located in Misiones Province in the Northeastern tip of Argentina and bordering the Brazilian state of Parana to the north, Iguazú National Park, jointly with its sister park Iguaçu in Brazil, is among the world’s visually and acoustically most stunning natural sites for its massive waterfalls. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984, creating an humid climate. Courtesy: UNESCO

Around the city

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Bengaluru’s

greenery, which kept the city cool, is receding. Reasons: Excessive pollution and climatic factors.

The pH level of leaf extracts in Bengaluru has risen to the 4.325.1 range, which is acidic, affecting the health of plants.

A research paper on Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) says plants in urban areas are constantly exposed to air pollutants, causing their integration into the system, resulting in changing the nature of the leaf and its tolerance and sensitivity.

A plant’s pH should be around 6.5-7, resulting in the plant’s healthy growth and photosynthesis. Individually, these biochemical parameters do not signify anything, but collectively they help in building a greener and safer environment.

Dr Priyadarshini Pillai, head of botany at Jyothi Nivas College and one of the people behind the research paper, said: “We did much work on air quality and how pollution affects the environment. After we thought of changing our topic and observations, we came across this pH and how important factor it plays in tree health.

“Trees are planted for a better environment. If a tree’s health is affected, what’s the point of planting more? The health of a tree is also important as it gives us one of the important elements for the living race to live on.”

The current PM2.5 concentration in Bengaluru is 3.3 times the limit given by the WHO.

Vijay Nishanth, a tree doctor and urban conservationist at Project Vruksha Foundation, said: “A decrease in pH levels will become more stressful for the tree. That is why today we can see fungal infections, pests on trees, premature falling, poor growth, root damage, and inability to (perform) photosynthesis…. If the tree is not functioning properly, obviously the air quality produced will de- crease and the benefits we get will also change. Bengaluru’s soil is so fertile, it can grow any kind of plant. There are some trees which benefit the soil. So, in some way, the soil of the city is also being affected.”

Asked about a solution, he added: “Every city has a certain capacity and we have crossed that limit. An IISc report says that for one person seven trees are required. Do we have that now? So that’s the reason cities should have distributed growth, decreasing the stress on environment. The government knows the situation. But they still planned to cut trees for the Sankey tank flyover. Cutting trees should never be an option for development purposes for any country. They should find an alternative”

Chinna Babu, an agricultural professor who holds a degree in environmental engineering, said: “Tree leaves turning acidic is not a new topic but a concern that should be raised. It affects the environment. The government has to take initiatives and conduct programmes like cleaning leaves and regularly checking trees’ health for a better environment and not let this affect human’s health eventually..”

Read the complete story on www.theweeklyobserver.in

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