Bioindication of Urban Air Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Petunia Hybrida

Bioindication Urban Air Pollution Petunia Hybrida Active Approach Morphological Changes.

Authors

  • Fatima Benaissa
    benaissa_fatima@ymail.com
    Biology department. University of Boumerdes. Faculty of Sciences, Railway Station Road - Boumerdes 35000, Algeria. Laboratory Biomathematics, Biophysics, Biochemistry and Scientometry L3BS, University of Bejaia, Targa Ouzemour, Bejaia 06000,, Algeria
  • Ibrahim Bendahmane Research Laboratory in Applied Hydraulics and Environment (LRHAE), University of Bejaia, Targa Ouzemour, Bejaia 06000,, Algeria
  • Nassima Bourfis Department of Agricultural Sciences, Bouira university, Bouira 10000,, Algeria
  • Oussama Aoulaiche Biology department. University of Boumerdes. Faculty of Sciences, Railway Station Road - Boumerdes 35000,, Algeria
  • Rezak Alkama Electrical Engineering Laboratory, Bejaia University, Targa Ouzemour, Bejaia 06000,, Algeria
Vol. 5 No. 6 (2019): June
Research Articles

Downloads

Different ways can be used to determinate the effects of hydrocarbons on plants: the bioindication with plants is one of these methods. It consists of using sensitive plants like Petunia hybrida to evaluate the urban levels of hydrocarbon pollution. The sensitivity shows physiological and morphological modifications. In this context, this research aims to characterize the level of exposure to air pollutants resulting from anthropogenic activities in urban area of Bejaia (Algeria) by measuring the morphological impacts induced on Petunia hybrida using 11 parameters detailing the morphological development of this plant. During 7 weeks (March 23- May 11, 2017), ten monitoring stations were chosen in this city. The results showed that the most important morphological changes are directly associated with the stations closest to the main atmospheric emission zones. It is by moving away from these sources of exposure that the morphological changes observed in this bioindicating plant become less important. These results coincide with those found for particle matter concentrations including PM10 and PM2.5 which indicate that Daouadji and Aamriw stations are the most polluted sites in Bejaia. Analyzes carried out on research station located in rural area (more than 30 km from the studied city) revealed a greater general development compared to other stations.