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Deciduous trees with compound leaves more tolerant to air pollution: study

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8 years ago

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Deciduous trees with compound leaves more tolerant to air pollution: study

~By Dr Aditi Jain

Degrading air quality in metro cities is a matter of concern for public health. Massive tree plantation drives are often conducted in order to provide oxygen to choking cities. But trees, much like humans, are also severely affected by pollutants in the air.

In such a situation, knowledge about trees capable of withstanding heavily polluted environment is needed, particularly while designing green belts in urban areas. A new study done by researchers at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) might help in this regard. The study has deciphered impact of air pollution on health of various trees, and identified trees hardy enough to tolerate stress induced by air pollution.

Deciduous trees with compound leaves more tolerant to air pollution: studyThe researchers selected three regions with a variable degree of pollution levels – residential, traffic and industrial site – in Varanasi. They found that levels of particulate (total suspended particles, Particulate Matter 10) and gaseous pollutants (nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone) were 1.4 to 2.5 times more in the areas with traffic and the industrial site compared to the residential location. The levels of most pollutants were high during winters followed by summers and monsoon months, except ozone which was higher in summers. The study was performed for six successive seasons for two years.

In all, thirteen tree species that were present in all the three sites were selected to study impact of air pollution on them. Around fifteen leaf parameters such as antioxidant status, leaf water status, photosynthetic pigment etc. and tree characteristics were studied at all the sites.

The results showed that particulate matter and ozone were the most damaging to trees, causing maximum variability in their characteristics. Of all the studied trees, Caesalpinia sappan (Indian redwood) was found to be the most tolerant followed by Psidium guajava (yellow guava), Dalbergia sissoo (shisham) and Albizia lebbeck (saras). These tree species showed an increase in antioxidants, pigments and relative water status with increase in pollution load.

Tolerance and pollution response were regulated by different tree characteristics such as height, canopy size, leaf form, texture and nature of the tree. The analysis showed that deciduous trees, with compound leaves, small-to-medium canopy and round-to-oval shape are more tolerant to pollution. The scientists reasoned that as compared to simple leaves, compound leaves are less exposed to air pollutants making trees bearing such leaves more tolerant.

“Identification of relative tolerance of tree species to air pollutants with respect to their leaf functional traits and canopy characteristics could be useful in planning green belt development in cities. Our findings are also useful for urban biodiversity conservation, which will enhance ecosystem services by supporting biodiversity, improving aesthetic appearance and mitigating air pollutant’s burden to reduce human health risk,” said Dr Madhoolika Agarwal,  author of the study, while speaking to India Science Wire.

The results of the study have been published in journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. The research team included Arideep Mukherjee and Madhoolika Agrawal from the Banaras Hindu University. (India Science Wire)

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PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

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22 hours ago

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September 4, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.

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Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon begins first mission to International Space Station

Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has launched aboard Soyuz MS-29 on his first mission to the International Space Station, where he is expected to spend around eight months conducting research.

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2 months ago

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July 14, 2026

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Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon has embarked on his first journey into space after successfully launching aboard Russia’s Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

The mission lifted off from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 8:17 PM on Tuesday. Menon was accompanied by Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina as the three-member crew began their expedition to the orbiting laboratory.

Crew to spend about eight months aboard ISS

The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft is expected to dock with the International Space Station a little over three hours after launch. Once aboard the ISS, the crew will carry out a range of scientific research and technology demonstration projects during their mission.

The expedition is scheduled to last approximately eight months, with the crew expected to return to Earth in 2027 after completing their planned activities in orbit.

Menon’s maiden spaceflight marks a significant milestone in his astronaut career as he joins the International Space Station crew for long-duration research and operational work.

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Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to meet PM Modi after return from historic space mission

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned from the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission, will meet PM Modi this evening. Parliament will also hold a special discussion on his historic journey.

Published

1 year ago

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August 18, 2025

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Subhanshu shukla

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening at his official residence in New Delhi.

PM Modi to host meeting with astronaut

According to officials, the meeting at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg is expected to take place between 5 pm and 5:30 pm. Shukla, who arrived in India on Sunday, will also be part of the National Space Day celebrations scheduled for August 23.

Warm welcome in India

The astronaut was greeted at the airport by his family, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and hundreds of citizens waving the national flag. Shukla had been in the United States for a year, preparing for the Axiom-4 mission, which launched from Florida on June 25 and docked at the ISS the next day. He served as the mission’s pilot.

Emotional note from Shukla

Before his return, Shukla shared an emotional post on Instagram, expressing mixed feelings of leaving his space colleagues while being eager to meet his loved ones and people of India. He also quoted a song from the film Swades, which he had chosen as his anthem on the launch day.

Parliament session on India’s space journey

In honour of Shukla’s mission, the Lok Sabha is holding a special session today to discuss “India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS – critical role of space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047.” Union minister Kiren Rijiju said the discussion would highlight the importance of India’s space achievements and future goals.

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